Dads at School launches Virginia pilot to engage more K12 male caregivers
Plus: Spanberger signs commission bill, boy/men policy training and more ....
I’m proud to roll out Dads at School, a new nonprofit that supports K12 father engagement through year-round support and $1,000 grants.
Dads at School is a national program with a Virginia pilot, currently onboarding schools in the Commonwealth that want free support in engaging male caregivers — and be financially rewarded in the process!
This is possible thanks to initial funding from Richard Reeves’s American Institute for Boys, and we are excited to partner with Illinois State University’s College of Education to collect data on this project.
Dads at School objectives:
Increase family-school engagement, which educators and scholars know improves child outcomes
Schools double the number of potential engaged parents by removing barriers and intentionally welcoming fathers into schools
Close gender gaps by normalizing dads at schools
Boys and girls interact more with men
Boys and girls see more men in caregiving roles
Dads are supported in their full, caregiving selves
Moms are no longer disproportionately expected to take on unpaid care work
Everyone wins!
My personal goal leading this effort: Put us out of business. Make father engagement and school presence normal and boring.
Read more about Dads at School or schedule a meeting with me to learn more.
Please share this email with educators, parents, PTA leaders, school administrators or people just curious to learn more — any of these can sign up and lead a Dads at School partnership.
Again, we are looking for Virginia schools for the 2026-27 school year, but anyone can join the waitlist.
VA Boys and Men Commission update
Virginia Gov. Spanberger last month signed into law bills that create the Virginia Boys and Men Advisory Commission — landmark legislation that is part of a wave of policy around the country — and world — that addresses unmet needs of boys and men as a special class of humans.
P.S. Please don’t message me about getting yourself on the commission as I have no influence there! But, thank you for your service!
Boys / Men health policy advocacy training
If you’d like to learn more about effective advocating for boys and men’s policy, The American Public Health Association’s Men’s Caucus is hosting this awesome June 23 virtual training with a stellar roundup I am thrilled to be part of along with Virginia Delegate Josh Thomas, sponsor of the boys/men commission bill:
Raise awareness about needs, the current political climate, and the vital role of policy
Develop skills for effective advocacy, including messaging and organizing
Connect with a growing national network committed to sustained advocacy action
I shared my two cents on this topic in this post, which elaborates on my view of the role of passing laws vs changing culture, and where the men’s rights and family law advocates have historically fallen short, and where we can be more effective.
More in this presentation from the International Shared Parenting Conference in Portugal a few months ago:
I am searching for Virginia initiatives or programs or efforts to support boys and men. Reply to this message and share who and what you know!
Thank you! Would love any support in getting the word out!
This is really great!