These dads help students feel extra love & support!

When Percy Scott's son transferred high schools, he and other dads saw just how many of the students needed father figures to support them. So they formed The Dad Squad to spread encouragement and love

- —Bill Holton

Percy Scott (left) knew he and other dads could do something to make a difference-now, they make students' days with smiles and high-fives in the hallways

Homewood-Flossmoor High's principal, Dr. Clinton Alexander (right) encouraged Percy and Hubert to start The Dad Squad, and he consistently cheers them on in their efforts to be supportive to teens

Look," Percy Scott said to his wife, Joni, pointing to a table at the open house for the high school where his son, Zavier, would be attending in Flossmoor, Illinois. Volunteers were recruiting members for the school's parents association. “How many dads are members?” Percy asked.

“Just me,” said Hubert Stalling. “If you sign up, there will be two of us.”

“That's not right,” Percy said. “These kids need more male influences in their lives.”

Hubert agreed that many kids needed father figures, and the duo soon discovered the school's new principal, Dr. Clinton Alexander, was also on their side. It was his first year at the high school, and he'd already noticed students' mothers were doing more than their share. “We need to get more dads involved,” Principal Alexander said at the next parents' association meeting, and told the parents about a program he'd heard about in another state called Dads on Patrol.

“The students' fathers come to school to help with discipline,” he explained. “We don't need that, but what we do need are dads on campus showing the kids they care about our school and our students.”