It's Geoffrey Branch's first day at West Side Middle School in Waterbury.
"Moms are busy enough so, if dads can spend some time, come in and do it because it's the presence. Students see a male presence. Because if the parents are involved they're gonna wanna get their education," Branch said.
Branch and others have been dubbed the 'Watchdog Dads.' They patrol the school hallways, make sure the kids aren't loitering in the bathrooms, but most importantly, act as mentors and tutors.
"I'm really in the know of what's going on right now. It's really reassuring. I'm seeing my little girl. I'm meeting her friends. I hang out in the cafe while I'm here so it's really cool," said Chuck Collini.
Mothers have been always been volunteering in schools, but when the dads were brought in, it also brought a little controversy. Parents and the school board wanted background checks.
"Unfortunatly moms have been around forever, there wasn't a problem until we thought about bringing dads into the building. So we discussed it and we decided as a compact school so that we would go into the initial background check with the fathers and this way kind of put everybody at ease if there is any worry," said Grisell Meyer, parent liaison.
But the controversy hasn't stifled interest - in the past week and a half, about a dozen dads contacted the school to sign up.
If the program proves successful, it may be implemented at other schools in the district.
