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Pastor Brian Mattson with daughter Dorothy and son Jack

Pastor Brian Mattson on Strong Schools Captain Connections

Brian Mattson has a lot of roles in his life: husband, father of two, lead pastor of the Downtown Church in Springfield, and Strong Schools captain for McGregor Elementary. Brian heard about this new way to get involved in his community from Good Dads’ founder Dr. Jennifer Baker, who attends church where Brian is lead […]

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A father holds his daughter's hand. Their backs are turned to the camera, and the daughter is wearing a backpack.

Practice Makes Perfect

Have you ever had this thought? You buy a Powerball ticket and discover you won the jackpot! You’ve made it!! You can quit your job, pay off the mortgage, buy the car you’ve always wanted, and retire to some Caribbean island. I’m sure you have – I have. Even though we dream that just doing […]

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Rick and Daisy Gideon

Father-daughter duo Rick and Daisy Gideon on learning lessons through Strong Schools

What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple ways for dads to bond with their kids—and beyond that, they’re also all activities featured in Good Dads Strong Schools events! Believe it or not, the simple act of building a paper bridge or playing […]

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Brian and Hudson Stranghoener

Father-son duo Brian and Hudson on bonding opportunities through Strong Schools

Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home an informational flyer on a before-school breakfast program called Good Dads Strong Schools at his school, Bissett Elementary. Curious, Brian wanted to see what it was all about. For Brian, he’s enjoyed watching his sons […]

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The Dad Factor: Good Dads Great Communities podcast recap with guests

Simple Moments, Big Impact: Dads Making a Difference at School

In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to the experts about father involvement in elementary schools. Founder/director Dr. Jennifer L. Baker and co-host J. Fotsch welcome Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson—an experienced educator and retired Branson Schools administrator—for a meaningful discussion […]

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Father Eric Griffin with sons Owen and Eric

The Griffin family on learning the value of teamwork through Strong Schools

Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He works hard as an accountant to provide for his family, but it’s rare for him to see his children until late into the evening after work. “Most days I get up and I’m at work […]

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Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap on fatherhood engagement efforts in schools

Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim Millsap, Good Dads’ Strong Schools Coordinator, isn’t most people. “I was so bad at retirement, I came on board with Good Dads,” he joked. Jim has always enjoyed being involved in education. He previously spent […]

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Good Dads board member and master facilitator Sally Herman addresses her group of session attendees in a classroom at the Good Dads Family Reunion

Bringing it Home Attendees Joined Good Dads for First-Ever Reunion

We loved seeing Good Dads leaders from across the state Friday, July 18, at our Family Reunion in Springfield, MO. This wonderful event was the perfect summer celebration and opportunity to make memories together. Here’s what we’ll be thinking about for a long time: It was truly a day to remember! We’re already thinking about […]

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The Dad Factor: Measure success through learning from failure

Measure Twice, Learn Once

I have so many Tom stories, I thought I would share another one. It has always bugged me how Tom could look at something and know it wasn’t level. I’m not talking about when something is obviously crooked—I’m talking about microscopic slants that only a level or a wizard could detect. Tom isn’t a wizard. […]

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The Dad Factor: A lineup of June 2025's podcast guests

June Conversations: Inspiring Insights from Four Good Dads Episodes

This month Good Dads podcast lineup explored vital areas of fatherhood—from raising financially responsible kids to building father-focused programs in rural communities. Each conversation offers a powerful reminder that intentional parenting and consistent presence can shape futures, families and even entire communities. This week on the Good Dads blog, we’re featuring our favorite takeaways and […]

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The Dad Factor: A smiling girl sits on a couch, looking at her phone

What Are You Doing This Summer? A Word of Caution in our Screen-Reliant World

School’s out and the kids are in—in your homes, in your refrigerators and in your hair. The newness of the experience has passed, so you have started looking for someone or something to babysit them. You could maybe get the next-door neighbor’s teenager to watch the kiddos, but that would cost money. So, the next […]

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A cake with black and white icing decorated with a graduation cap and diploma. Words on the cake read "congratulations graduates"

Good Dads Graduation Celebrates Two-Dozen Fathers

We honored 24 exceptional men on Thursday, June 12, at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. This amazing event, with 150+ attendees, celebrated the dedicated fathers who met all the criteria of the New Pathways for Good Dads program. These outstanding individuals have accomplished a great deal: They finished both classes, found stable jobs, and […]

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