Varner Elementary School recently marked the 10th anniversary of its involvement with WATCH D.O.G.S., a national program that encourages fathers and father figures to participate in school communities. Established in 1998, WATCH D.O.G.S.—which stands for Dads Of Great Students—has expanded to over 8,800 schools across the country.
“We have just launched our 8,848th school,” said Jim Walters, National Director of WATCH D.O.G.S. “The secret sauce of this program is the love and brotherhood that develops between the dads who get involved. WATCH D.O.G.S. proves over and over again that fathers and father figures will show up in service to their school campus and community.”
At Varner Elementary, staff and parents have supported the program’s growth since it began at the school ten years ago. The recent kickoff event for the 2025-26 school year drew many participants, including current members and those interested in joining.
Tony Tesmer, a speech therapist at Varner Elementary, has played a key role as coordinator of the program at the school. Last year, he recruited more than 100 men to take part in various activities. “We have found something that’s magical, and it has just clicked here,” Mr. Tesmer said about his Varner D.O.G.S. “They come out whenever I ask them. These dads are hungry to be a part of what’s happening in the school and the community. Last school year, we had 262 occurrences of WATCH D.O.G.S. being involved in the school day, an evening, or a weekend event. Varner has the best dads!”
During the anniversary celebration, Jim Walters made a surprise appearance to present Tony Tesmer with the 2025 Coordinator of the Year national award for his leadership with WATCH D.O.G.S.
“I am humbled. To me, this award is a reflection of what these dads do. The award is a byproduct of that. I wouldn’t be anywhere with WATCH D.O.G.S. without them. We’ve been doing this since 2014 and it has grown over the last decade. I did the program with my own kids, and I’ll never forget that experience. I want that for them,” Mr. Tesmer said.
Jim Walters highlighted Varner’s approach as exemplary among participating schools: “We have a lot of schools involved in the program, but few have figured out how to do it like this,” he said about his team’s decision regarding Mr. Tesmer’s recognition.”We wish we could take what he does and gift it to other coordinators. It’s been exciting to learn about what Tony is doing here, but it’s even more exciting to witness it in person. It’s a great way for us to shine the spotlight on compelling success stories within the program.”
Walters also noted how effective leadership can encourage broader participation nationwide: “My hope is that more men like Tony will step up around the country and surround themselves with others like themselves. It’s great to have a passionate individual running the program at the school, but it’s even better when there’s a team.This helps to ensure long-term success by building for the future,” Jim Walters said.
Varner Elementary’s decade-long commitment highlights ongoing efforts within Cobb County School District schools to engage male role models through programs such as WATCH D.O.G.S.
