Gallery: Good Dads donors discover the ‘key’ to great communities
September 25, 2026
Yesterday evening, the central feeling in everyone’s hearts at our intimidate dinner was gratitude. With the Good Dads board of
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Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim Millsap, Good Dads’ Strong Schools Coordinator, isn’t most people. “I was so bad at retirement, I came on board with Good Dads,” he joked. Jim has always enjoyed being involved in education. He previously spent […]
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School’s out and the kids are in—in your homes, in your refrigerators and in your hair. The newness of the experience has passed, so you have started looking for someone or something to babysit them. You could maybe get the next-door neighbor’s teenager to watch the kiddos, but that would cost money. So, the next […]
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Curiosity is the foundation of lifelong learning, and in Good Dads’ most recent podcast episode on “The Difference a Dad Makes,” hosts Brian and J. Fotsch welcome Rudy Martinez, Director of the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, to explore how dads can cultivate curiosity and outdoor engagement in their children. Rudy shares how his love for […]
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The oft-heard adage, “Fake it ’till you make it” isn’t perfectly true, but it does contain an important nugget of truth. You see, no one is born with the built-in ability to do things successfully. A newborn infant knows how to cry, feed and sleep. (Maybe a couple of other things also!). All the other […]
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Did you play “Hide and Seek” with your neighborhood friends growing up? The version I played involved the “Seeker” standing by a Home Base, usually a tree or street sign, and counting to a designated number (usually 100) while all the “Hiders” dispersed throughout the neighborhood. After the Seeker reached the end of their count, […]
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Who better to ask than a classroom full of teenagers, “What does it mean to be a good dad?” At Parkview High School, classrooms are full of a variety of perceptions considering its high diversity rate–both multiculturally and socioeconomically. There was hesitancy to even ask the question because that can be a sensitive topic to […]
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The time of the year that every parent loves has arrived! It’s back to school time! Dads (and moms) are happy to get the kiddos out of the house (and their hair) for the day. Clothes, school supplies, and other necessities have been obtained. Mission accomplished – right? Well, maybe not so fast. While the […]
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This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re diving into the ways you can be a good dad to preteens. Children at this age are in a period of growth and discovery: they’re learning who they are and figuring out their passions by becoming more independent. On recent episodes of the Good Dads podcast, […]
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If your child is entering the public education system (maybe for the first time), you’re probably wondering how to make sure it’s a success. I understand, and I am in the same boat as a dad of a preschooler. I’ve done my share of research on making my son’s leap into elementary school go smoothly, […]
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This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re focusing on being a good dad to kids between 6–9 years old. If you have a child this age, they’re most likely in the middle of their summer break. Because summer is the perfect time for relaxation and fun in the sun, the last thing some […]
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Suddenly the sound of a bell, horn or whistle breaks the silence. Almost immediately another set of sounds can be heard. Those whoops, sighs and moans are voices of school children, teachers and parents heralding the end of the school year. Summer vacation has arrived! Summer is a particularly important time for dads. Summer offers […]
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High-stress jobs in education? Been there. Managing and leading others? Done that. Juggling a career while being a dad? Welcome to Jim Millsap’s life. Our new Good Dads Strong Schools Coordinator has seen it all. A Springfield native, Jim attended Missouri State University to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The retired educator spent 39 […]
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Gallery: Good Dads donors discover the ‘key’ to great communities
Yesterday evening, the central feeling in everyone’s hearts at our intimidate dinner was gratitude. With the Good Dads board of
Facilitators Sharpen Leadership Skills at Good Dads FORGE Training Camp
Thank you for another successful Training Camp! A dozen facilitators joined Good Dads in Springfield, MO, last week from across
Let’s Talk About It: Combatting Stigmas of Men’s Mental Health
On our last Good Dads Communicators blog, we talked about why it’s so important that dads prioritize their physical health
More dads are talking to their doctors about their long-term health
“I’m fine.” “I’ll walk it off.” “It’s too much of a hassle.” “Doc’s not going to tell me something I
Starting School on the Right Foot: Advice from a Teacher
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year! At Good Dads, we’re excited for another year of school success stories and lessons
Ready for School? Built-in school resources to help your student succeed
August has arrived, and with it comes the task of getting ready for the start of the school year. Time
It Takes a Village: Being a Good Dad, Collaboratively
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Communicating with Your Child’s Pediatrician
This year on the Good Dads blog, we’ve examined many ways dads can be good communicators to their partners and
Hear, Hear!: Clear Communication for Families
“When clear communication is taking place, we feel informed, engaged, involved and aware.” That’s what Brian Mattson, father of two
Our Takeaways from the ‘Gone Guys’ Documentary Screening
Following Good Dads’ screening of “Gone Guys,” an energetic—sometimes hopeful, sometimes sad—but nonetheless meaningful conversation occurred. We hosted a six-member
Good Dads hosts New Pathways graduation
This time of year is special for several reasons, with schools letting out across the country, students moving up a
Mending Fences: The Three R’s of a Good Apology
Jude asks his son Kyle (15) to take out the trash by the time he gets back from the store.