Harlan Watch DOGS beloved helpers in classrooms

Doug DeHart reported to Harlan Elementary School with his two children promptly at 7:45 a.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 22, DeHart was a teacher's helper, a student, a friend and a mentor as a volunteer Watch D.O.G.S. or 'Dads of Great Students.” He wore a Mt. Pleasant Panther's T-shirt and a Watch DOGS name tag.

'The kids see me and wave and say ‘Hey, Mr. Doug,'” DeHart said. 'At school or out on the town, the kids see me and remember me.”

The Watch DOGS program was launched in October at Harlan Elementary School. It is a national program with the intention of getting dads into the schools on a regular basis. The program was started 20 years ago in an Arizona school district and has grown steadily. In Iowa, 40 schools use the Watch DOGS program. To be a Watch DOGS, a background check is required and staff members go over school rules with each dad.

Thirteen dads of Harlan students have volunteered as a Watch DOGS since the program began in October. DeHart has already been a Watch DOGS twice.

Flexibility is important as a Watch DOGS, DeHart said. He was in the military for 20 years, which taught him flexibility, he said. While he said he didn't know what to expect in the classrooms at first, it was easy to get into the swing of things. He helps the younger students with math and sight words. The older students he listens to as they read.

'I'll do whatever anyone here needs me to do,” DeHart said.

DeHart started his day in the office where he checked in as a Watch DOGS and it was announced to the school that he was there for the day. He greeted students as they were dropped off for class before starting his day with his seven-year-old son Talon in second grade.

Next, DeHart joined the fourth-grade classroom before going to assist with the fifth-graders. In the afternoon, he volunteered in the art room with the third grade class and got to have a dance party with the kindergartners.

As DeHart waited in line for lunch with Talon, Talon was already asking when DeHart could be a Watch DOGS again.

'I like having my dad at school. I like spending time with him and I really think he likes spending time with me and my brother,” Talon said.

DeHart said being a Watch DOGS helps him connect better with his kids. Talon is the class clown, DeHart said. His teacher told DeHart that Talon is a different person with his dad in the classroom. He focuses better and listens more.

'He takes pride when I'm there with him,” DeHart said.

DeHart's younger son Reed, a kindergartner, is the popular student in his class, DeHart said. Everybody wants to be with Reed, he said.

Seeing his children's teachers in action gives DeHart more respect for what they do, he said. All of the teachers have a calm demeanor and react with patience.

DeHart works a night shift at MacKayMitchell Envelope Company, making his daytime hours flexible to volunteer for Watch DOGS days. Watch DOGS can also choose to volunteer for a half day if they are unable to take a full day off work.

'I couldn't be here just a half day,” DeHart said with a smile. 'It's better than sitting around doing nothing waiting for them to come home from school.”

DeHart has been encouraging other fathers to try the program.

'Give it a try,” DeHart said. 'If they come in and it's not for them, that's OK. Not everybody is going to have the patience and tolerance.”

Kindergartner Jaylen Shumaker said that she enjoys when the Watch DOGS are in her classroom because she enjoys new people. 'I get to learn their names. It's super fun,” she said.

Zander Myers, a second-grader, said his dad is thinking about participating in the Watch DOGS program in January 2019. Myers said his dad gets to stay home from work every Friday and he doesn't get to see him because he's at school. With his dad as a Watch DOGS, Myers would get to introduce him to his teacher, his friends and have him help with his schoolwork, Myers said.

Art teacher Dawn Wiley said that the help Watch DOGS provide is wonderful.

'In the elementary schools, there's not a whole bunch of male influences around,” Wiley said. At Harlan, there are only two male teachers. The Watch DOGS are other male role models the students can look up to.

Fifth-grade teacher Brandon Harrison said that it gives him extra support in the classroom. Harrison has the Watch DOGS help with math, spelling quiz preparation and just enjoys having another set of eyes in the classroom.

Janet Lee, a second-grade teacher, said the Watch DOGS program is absolutely amazing.

'I love it in so many ways. They are positive male role models in the building constantly. You see a lot of excitement from the students when a Watch DOGS come in. Students whose dads are Watch DOGS talk about it for weeks before and weeks after,” Lee said.