On September 3d dozens of fathers and guardians showed up at Newark’s KIPP TEAM Academy for the annual “Kings Recognize Kings” event, which celebrates the importance of male role models in students’ lives, both in and out of school. As KIPP TEAM Academy Assistant School Leader Maurice Foster explains,

“We thought it was very important to combat the narrative that Black dads and Black fathers are not present in their children’s lives. We have this annual event where fathers walk their children to school, come in, have some breakfast, eat with them, see the classroom, mingle with the teachers to show their presence. It’s a wonderful event and everybody should have one.”

Indeed, a record-breaking number of nearly 100 fathers and father figures attended to celebrate their involvement in their students’ education. Student Born-Sire Nichole exulted, “my dad comes to see us at every single event or game day we have.” 

Jeffrey White, father of fifth-grader Yusef, pronounced the day “awesome.” 

“We had breakfast with the children,” he recounted, and “it means a lot because fathers get the back end of the stick nowadays. We’re changing the narrative around here. We are here for the children.” 

Another father, Alkaliq Holmes commented, “We do this because it’s important that they feel encouraged and they know that we’re here to support them. We are here for them and we will be here for any event or any thing that’s going on.”

School Leader Nikeya Stuart reminded students to be grateful they have such support in their lives, both in and out of the classroom. “It’s important to have a village to support you and everything you want to do in life [so] don’t take that for granted!”

KIPP New Jersey educates over 8,500 students in 17 public charter schools in Newark and Camden. The Newark campuses collectively serve about 6,000 students, overwhelmingly Black and low-income. According to the New Jersey Department of Education database, 39% of KIPP TEAM students are proficient in reading, compared to 29% in Newark’s district schools, and 21% of KIPP TEAM students are proficient in math, compared to 16% of district students. After graduating from KIPP, 69% of students enroll in two or four-year colleges, the same as the state average.