Dallas Middle School Sees Overwhelming Response for “Breakfast with Dads” Mentorship Event

Last month, Billy Earl Dade Middle School in Dallas, Texas, hosted its inaugural “Breakfast with Dads”, a mentorship program designed to support and guide its male students. The initiative aimed to provide young boys with positive male role models who could offer guidance, encouragement, and life lessons (Dallas News).

School principal Tracie Washington emphasized the importance of mentorship, noting that while seeking guidance can be challenging for students, the response from the boys was overwhelming. “About 150 students requested a mentor,” Washington said, highlighting both the need and eagerness for positive male influence in their lives.

Community Steps Up

Initially, the school worried there wouldn’t be enough mentors to support all the students. Donald Parish, President of the Dade SBDM Board, explained, “We were asked to help get some extra guys to stand in as surrogate fathers and mentors for the kids whose dads couldn’t make it or don’t have a dad in their life.”

In response, the school posted a call for 50 volunteer fathers on its Facebook page. The results far exceeded expectations: nearly 600 men from all walks of life answered the call. Volunteers included military personnel, public officials, community organizers, law enforcement officers, and business professionals. Among them was Jason Rodriguez, Dallas Assistant Chief of Police, who shared his experience on social media, writing:

“Words cannot describe the impact mentoring youth can have on both you and your mentee. Powerful to see a community of fellow men and fathers come together to wrap their arms around our young men. Thank you for having me out.”

(Dallas News)

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

The event gave boys ages 11-13 the chance to learn practical skills and life lessons from their mentors, from tying a necktie to discussing future goals, responsibility, and decision-making. Volunteers also shared personal experiences, providing a safe space for students to ask questions about challenges they face both at home and at school.

Washington noted, “This turnout is a testament to what happens when a school and a community come together. It shows the power of mentorship and the difference a village can make in the lives of young people.”

The overwhelming support for the “Breakfast with Dads” program demonstrates the impact of community engagement and the importance of positive male role models in shaping the next generation. Many hope this event will become an annual tradition at Dade Middle School, inspiring other schools across the country to implement similar programs.