WARREN - Roland Jackson said he appreciated the opportunity to enjoy breakfast with his children on Tuesday despite having to race from one school to another.
"It's a quick stop here at Jefferson to have breakfast with my son and then over to Harding to have breakfast with my daughter," he said. "But it's OK. It's worth it."
Jackson, who shared breakfast with his son, James, 9, a fourth-grader, was among the more than 70 dads who turned out at Warren City Schools Jefferson K-8 building, and hundreds who made it to other schools, for the Fathers Take Your Child to School Day.
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The program was held Tuesday morning in all grades, in all buildings, in the Warren City School District.
The Trumbull County Fatherhood Initiative and Collaboration Station, which organized the event, also invited several city and county leaders to breakfast.
Warren Council President Bob Dean was a guest at Jefferson's breakfast.
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Tribune Chronicle / Virginia Shank Roland Jackson and his son, James Stockard, 9, a fourth-grader, have breakfast Tuesday at Jefferson K-8 building as part of the Warren City Schools initiative Fathers Take Your Child to School Day.
"It's great and so very important to see fathers here with their children," Dean said. "Fathers have such an important role, and it's important that they have these relationships."
The initiative started in January 2011 to encourage fathers to be involved.
"It's a good idea. It's important for dads to come to the school and be part of it all," said Jason Dean of Warren. Dean had breakfast with his son, Jason Jr., 7, Jaylynne, 6, and Acacia, 9. "It's good the school does this."
Wendy Hartzell, grade 6 to 8 principal at Jefferson, commended the fathers for wanting to spend time with their children at school Tuesday morning.
"This is the first time Jefferson has done this," she said. "Typically, parents take their children to work, but we wanted to do something a little different and turn that around and let our students bring their dads to school."
She said the influence fathers have and the impact they can make on their children's lives "is immeasurable."
"To come and spent an extra 10 to 15 minutes with your children is so important," she said. "The teachers and administrators do our best, but we need to have follow-up at home. We need parents, fathers, to be involved. The children need it."