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Larry Smith is an imposing figure. The 51-year-old keeps his baseball cap pulled low, a pair of sunglasses perennially covering his eyes. Tattoos spill out the ends of his short sleeve t-shirt. Smith¡¯s arms aren¡¯t exactly bulging, but they¡¯re solid like tree trunks. A deconstructed American flag twists and turns down Smith¡¯s left arm. The right arm is adorned with a bald eagle holding a scroll in its talons. The scroll is a list, a long one, of countries Smith served in during the military.

Smith¡¯s voice is an auditory match for his physical presence. His deep baritone is soothing and intimidating. Smith¡¯s commanding presence is both his natural personality, and the result of 12 years in the Marines and 16 years in the Army National Guard.

The contrast between the broad-shouldered six-foot Smith and the elementary school students doing math with him at a table is striking. The difference is made even more stark because Smith is wearing a bright yellow Watch DOGS shirt.

The group of 4^th graders are reviewing how to do complex math equations. Smith goes over the steps using a whiteboard and a marker. He patiently answers questions, offers encouragement, and occasionally reminds the students that they need to be working instead of chatting with each other.

¡°I probably give a thousand knuckle bumps and high fives throughout the day,¡± said Smith.

The Tumwater native is a regular volunteer at Littlerock Elementary School in the Tumwater School District as part of the Watch DOGS (Dads of Great Students) program.

¡°It [Watch DOGS] was designed and developed by educators, parents, and guardians with the goal of getting father figures into schools,¡± said Littlerock Principal Tamara York.

York started as a 4th grade teacher at nearby Peter G. Schmidt Elementary in 2017. It¡¯s here where she first learned of Watch DOGS. She helped launch the program at Peter G. before moving to Littlerock as principal in the fall of 2024.

¡°I actually talked about the program during my interview to be principal,¡± said York. ¡°It¡¯s a great way to engage families and build community.¡±

York worked with a pair of teachers and Littlerock¡¯s Parent Teacher Organization to get the program up and running at the school. She hosted a community meeting in February 2025. A group of roughly 50 men, mostly dads, showed up on a cold, wet, winter evening to learn more.

Interested dads (caregivers and family members can also participate) signed up to volunteer.

¡°One of the great things about this program is that volunteers spend an entire day at the school,¡± said York.

York devises a schedule for the day based on need and whether a teacher requested extra assistance. Watch DOGS float around the school. At one point they may be helping students with their reading, while at another point they¡¯re lending a hand during recess.

Christy Schock is a 4th grade teacher at Littlerock. She¡¯s been teaching for a total of 15 years. Shock returned to teaching five years ago following a break to raise a family and do the bookkeeping for the family business.

¡°Teaching has been in my bones since I can remember,¡± she said.

Schock is grateful for the program and the individualized attention that comes with having more support in the classroom.

¡°I think it¡¯s been really helpful, especially with math,¡± said Schock. ¡°It¡¯s been great to get kids out on whiteboards practicing math concepts with a Watch DOGS volunteer.¡±

Supporting students is at the core of the program and that can look different depending on the situation.

¡°I think it¡¯s absolutely essential to have parents and caregivers in the classroom,¡± said Schock. ¡°I think it plays a big role in the success of our students, not only in their academic learning, but there¡¯s just something about being able to sit with an adult and be seen and be heard.¡±

Elementary education professionals, whether that¡¯s staff, teachers, or even volunteers, trends toward women. The same is true at Littlerock.

¡°To see men taking the time to come out and do things in school, I think, gives kids a different perspective,¡± said Smith.

It seems fitting that the burly Smith spent twenty years as a juvenile probation officer. His outsized presence commands attention, but underneath that is a loving father¡ªone who takes time to coach youth sports and learn new ways to solve math problems so that he can better help his son.

¡°Kids are definitely our future,¡± he said. ¡°They need positive influences and people that can be there just to talk to them.¡±

Smith credits his coaches for helping him succeed.

¡°My dad taught me what not to be, but I had coaches who were there and made me who I am today,¡± he said.

York hopes to expand the Watch DOGS program during the next school year. The response from students, teachers, and volunteers is overwhelmingly positive. There¡¯s been an unintended side effect to the program.

¡°A lot of volunteers in the program have approached me and said something like, ¡®wow, I have a new appreciation for teachers¡¯ or, ¡®it¡¯s been really helpful to see the full student experience,¡¯¡± said York. ¡°I think that insight is a great way to build community and find ways together to support our students.¡±