The cafeteria at Oscar Patterson Academy looked a little different this morning.

There were plenty of students at the tables, but sitting beside them were dads, grandfathers, and other father figures, sharing breakfast, smiles, and, most importantly, time.

It was one of the first All Pro Dad gatherings of the 2026-2027 school year, as chapters across Bay District Schools begin another year of bringing fathers and their children together for meaningful conversations and connection.

At Oscar Patterson, the morning’s discussion centered on leadership. Dads and their children talked about the character traits that make someone a good leader and what those traits look like at school, at home and in everyday life.

But the conversations are only part of what makes the program special.

All Pro Dad, the flagship program of the nonprofit Family First, gives fathers and father figures a reason to intentionally carve out time with their children. Chapters typically meet once a month at school, often over breakfast, with activities and conversation starters designed to strengthen those relationships.

J.P. Meredith, a data manager at Oscar Patterson and one of the school’s All Pro Dad coordinators, said the impact is showing up well beyond the monthly breakfasts.

“All Pro Dad really helps our dads connect with their kids,” Meredith said. “We’ve seen more parent involvement in the school. I see more dads dropping their kids off at school, picking them up and just being more involved.”

The program has grown significantly in Bay County in recent years. What began with just a handful of local chapters has expanded across more BDS campuses, giving more families an opportunity to participate.

With more than 1,700 chapters nationwide and hundreds throughout Florida, All Pro Dad has built a growing network around a simple idea: being present matters.

And on mornings like this one at Oscar Patterson Academy, you can see exactly what that looks like.

A breakfast together. A conversation that might not otherwise happen. A hug before heading off to class.

Sometimes the most meaningful part of a school morning happens before the first bell ever rings.