Thank you, Jim, for sharing your insights and wisdom with us for a Presenter Spotlight!
Question: Share a little about how your personal and professional background relates to building great communities:
Answer: In my career as a schoolteacher and administrator I always found it necessary to make strong connections to families and community leaders to deliver the best education possible to my students. Many times, a collaboration between all those stakeholders was necessary to help students be successful. One of my main responsibilities was to help marshal those individuals to action.
Q: What do you see as the most important factor shaping the future of responsible fatherhood work?
A: Communication – with a healthy dose of collaboration. The message that there are resources to assist fathers and father figures must be made loudly and tailored to connect to them. Agencies that support developing fatherhood skills should work together to leverage their mission.
Q: What is one myth or understanding you encounter in your line of work (relating to fatherhood or otherwise) that you’d like to bust?
A: The myth that a father must be a Superman – an all-knowing, all-capable parent. A father is no different than any other person. Everyone has doubts, questions, and faults. It’s what makes us human.
Q: Our theme is “Bringing it Home.” We know that where somebody lives can have a huge influence on their values, priorities and outlooks. Share a little about the place you call “home” and how it shaped you.
A: I have lived my entire life in southwest Missouri. As a child I lived in a diverse neighborhood. I was blessed to create connections with children, adults, and teachers that were instrumental in shaping my values. My professional life was spent in mostly rural schools where it was important to make connections with many different individuals and groups. I believe that those experiences have helped me to focus on trying to seek consensus in my decision-making with others.
Q: What is your motto in life?
A: Focus on the journey, not the destination.
Q: In your opinion, what difference does it make to families and communities when fathers have the tools they need to be Good Dads?
A: Helping to equip fathers with the tools and skills to be better fathers creates confidence. Confidence creates confidence. A confident father helps to teach that same skill to their children. Confidence creates the desire to participate in improvement their neighborhood and in the community at large.
Q: What part of your presentation are you most excited to share with reunion attendees?
A: How Strong Schools can strengthen families and help make connections between dads in the community and the school.
Bring it Home with Good Dads
At the Good Dads Family Reunion, Jim and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson will present an exciting and informative session about Good Dads Strong Schools. Look forward to hearing about the successes of the program, why father involvement in education matters, and how you can implement a Strong Schools program at your neighborhood elementary school.
“Bringing it Home” is Friday, July 18, in Springfield, MO. Facilitators, chapter leaders and friends of Good Dads are invited to attend our first-ever Family Reunion. At this daylong celebration, we’ll enjoy delicious food, live music, exciting prizes and fun, engaging opportunities to honor the important father-focused work taking place around Missouri. Register for the reunion on the Good Dads website to secure your spot!
