'Dads on Duty and Moms as Mentors' will greet Austin Middle School and Decatur Middle School students.
A community of parents stepping in to make sure students know they’re not alone.
Dads on Duty and Moms as Mentors will greet students on the first day of school this year at Austin Middle School and Decatur Middle Schools.
Organizers said it's so important to encourage kids that may not get enough of it at home.
The first day of school is supposed to be exciting for kids and parents, but many times single parents aren’t able to be there to share in the excitement and offer encouragement to their kids on the first day. Many times, work keeps parents away, but that’s where Dads on Duty and Moms as Mentors step in, and you can too.
Nastasia Guster and her two daughters are close. Both of her kids go to Decatur Middle School.
"I'm just like, for somebody else to be there. To give good advice just as I would. It's good because I'm not at the school," said Guster.
It pains her she can't be at every school event if she wants to keep food on the table, but Bruce Jones with Decatur City Schools said he has her back. On the first day of school, the volunteer groups will be there to greet students like Guster's daughters, one by one. It's all about connecting kids with positive role models.
"The moms and dads or the volunteers primarily go into the schools while the kids are eating lunch or while they're eating breakfast or when they get ready to go home from school. So, it's not like a mentoring where we're sitting down and meeting with them once a week. They can interact with all the kids they can float around in the cafeteria and just say, 'Hey guys, how y'all doing? Hope y'all have a good day. Everything OK?' You know, that kind of stuff," said Jones.
The program is in its second year. This year, Dads on Duty will meet at Austin Middle School and Decatur Middle School.
Guster said she's beyond thankful.Â
"Like they say, it takes a village and you know where I'm weak somebody can be stronger. So just have a hand in you know, instead of a handout, you know, just a hand up. This is good," said Guster.
Any parent interested in joining Dads on Duty or Moms as Mentors has the opportunity, but time is running out. All you have to do is email Bruce Jones at Bruce.jones@dcsk12.al.us or call him directly at 256-227-4725.
