Jennings pitches father-engagement plan for Miami-Dade schools

Dr. Bernard W.H. Jennings, a Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 candidate, is proposing the “Fathers Forward Initiative” to boost father involvement across district schools. The plan links literacy, attendance and family engagement to a broader goal of moving students from a school-to-prison pipeline to a school-to-college pipeline.

Why it matters: - The proposal centers on father engagement as a lever for stronger attendance, reading and math performance, fewer discipline referrals and higher graduation rates. - Jennings frames the initiative as a way to help Miami-Dade County Public Schools build a school-to-college pipeline instead of a school-to-prison pipeline. - The campaign says the effort is meant to support students without replacing the roles of mothers, grandparents, guardians or teachers.

What happened: - Dr. Bernard W.H. Jennings, a candidate for Miami-Dade County School Board District 1, unveiled the Fathers Forward Initiative on July 23, 2026. - The proposal calls for every school to make father engagement a visible, organized part of campus life. - Jennings says the initiative is built around the belief that every child should know school is a place where their entire family belongs.

The details: - The mission is to increase responsible father engagement throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools. - Pillar One would make every school father-friendly by designating a Father Engagement Liaison or using an existing staff member to coordinate outreach. - That liaison would welcome fathers, maintain a volunteer network, coordinate mentoring, connect families to resources, encourage PTA/PTO participation and recruit fathers for school events. - Pillar Two would create Daddy & Donuts leadership breakfasts with principals, teachers, counselors, mental health professionals, fathers, coaches, community leaders, college representatives, law enforcement officers and local business owners. - Discussion topics would include raising readers, homework help, bullying prevention, college planning, mental health, internet safety, positive discipline, financial literacy, workforce readiness and fatherhood leadership. - Pillar Three would set aside Fridays, or another designated day, for Fathers Read Fridays in elementary classrooms. - Fathers and father figures would read with students, help at literacy stations, encourage struggling readers and model the value of education. - Pillar Four would recruit volunteer fathers as Math Mentors for tutoring sessions, multiplication practice, STEM activities and after-school support. - Parents would also receive simple at-home math strategies. - Pillar Five would create quarterly Lunch With Dad opportunities so fathers or father figures can eat with their children at school. - Pillar Six would launch a districtwide Father Volunteer Corps for field trips, Career Day, STEM fairs, reading nights, athletics, robotics, safety patrol, science fairs, music programs and school beautification. - Pillar Seven says college begins in kindergarten and would connect schools with colleges and universities, including Florida Memorial University and other local institutions. - That outreach would include campus visits, college nights, financial aid workshops, dual-enrollment information and career exploration. - Pillar Eight would give schools father resource centers with information on job training, workforce development, adult education, GED programs, parenting classes, family counseling, legal aid, housing resources, mental health services and food assistance. - Pillar Nine asks participating fathers to pledge support for school meetings, teacher relationships, reading, attendance, learning, graduation and postsecondary or career pathways. - The proposal says success should be measured by father participation, volunteer hours, event turnout, literacy and math proficiency, attendance, chronic absenteeism, suspensions, graduation rates, FAFSA completion, college enrollment and career and technical education participation. - Jennings says the initiative would lean on partnerships, grants, sponsorships and volunteer service rather than district funding alone. - Potential partners include the Good Dad Act Committee, faith-based groups, colleges, businesses, foundations, mentoring organizations, civic groups and chambers of commerce. - The campaign theme is “Fathers Forward: From the School-to-Prison Pipeline to the School-to-College Pipeline.” - Jennings also released a campaign message tying the proposal to his work through the Good Dad Act and his belief that children do better when responsible fathers are engaged.

Between the lines: - The plan treats family engagement as a school improvement strategy, not just a parent-outreach effort. - The emphasis on college exposure in elementary school signals an attempt to broaden students’ expectations early. - The initiative also tries to address absenteeism and discipline by increasing the presence of trusted adults on campus.

What's next: - Jennings is directing people to more information online. - The proposal appears aimed at building support among schools, community groups and potential partners as the campaign advances. - If adopted, the district would need to identify staff roles, event schedules, volunteer systems and measurable benchmarks for implementation.