Georgia Magazine - July 2023 - 34

Hometown HEROES
By Amber Lanier Nagle
Ryan Roy:
helping fathers
connect with
their children
R
yan Roy of Smyrna says the world would be
a better place if fathers were more involved
in their children's lives.
That's why, for more than a decade, Roy has
devoted his life to not only being the best father
possible to his two sons, ages 5 and 11, but also to
helping other fathers become exemplary parents.
After all, numerous studies have shown that
children with involved fathers have significantly
lower high-school dropout rates and
experience much lower rates of incarceration
and substance abuse.
To explain where his dedication comes
from, Roy points to his own life.
" I was abandoned by my father when I
Ryan Roy sits with his two sons and other students at Nickajack Elementary School.
was just 5 years old, so I grew up without a
dad, " he says. " When my wife and I found out
she was pregnant, I felt an immediate fear that
I would fail as a father. I didn't know how to
be a dad. "
Roy decided to transform himself into the dad he wished
'In just a few years, FBI
Dads went from a handful
of dads to nearly 500. And
more-engaged fathers
translates into happier,
more successful children.'
-Ryan Roy
he'd had. He started by getting involved in a fathers group called
Fathers Being Involved (FBI) Dads at Nickajack Elementary
School in 2016, when his oldest son began attending school
there. His youngest son attends the school today.
" When I went to the first meeting, it was just me and one
other guy, " Roy says. " That was unacceptable, so I volunteered
to lead the group and change the programming to drive up
participation. "
He partnered with doughnut chain Krispy Kreme to host
breakfasts. He implemented one-word themed lessons, during
which the group discussed character-building words like
" leadership " and " sportsmanship. " He scheduled pride
moments, with fathers and children announcing accomplishments
before snapping selfies onstage. He deployed an army of
dads to read books in classrooms, cook for the school staff and
perform community-service projects.
" In just a few years, FBI Dads went from a handful of dads
to nearly 500, " he says. " And more-engaged fathers translates
into happier, more successful children. Another benefit was
that when more fathers got involved in our school, donations
34 Georgia Magazine July 2023
poured into our PTA [Parent-Teacher Association]
and school foundation. "
The school foundation helps with teacher
grants, construction of sports infrastructure
and other projects not covered by the school's
budget.
The success of FBI Dads at Nickajack
Elementary led Roy to embark on a mission to
replicate the program in schools throughout
Georgia. Recently, he has expanded outside
Georgia and helped launch an FBI Dads
program at a school in New Mexico.
" It's a simple, repeatable formula that works for the schools,
works for the dads and, most of all, works for the kids, " he says.
Today, Roy is a noted speaker on the subject of fatherhood
and has transformed FBI Dads into an official nonprofit
organization. He's written a parenting book titled " Be the Dad
You Wish You Had: 40 Power Lessons to Become a Powerful
Dad. " And he's launched a 300-episode podcast titled " I Don't
Know Jack About Parenting. "
" A father's involvement truly makes a difference, " Roy says.
" When fathers show up for their children, good things happen
for everyone. "
Amber Lanier Nagle is a freelance writer living in
Adairsville.
For more information or to give
Visit fbidads.org to learn more about the program's mission to
create spaces on elementary school campuses where dads
engage with their kids and help them become successful
students and happy, productive young people. There are also links
on the website to donate, suggest a school or sponsor a school.
AMBER LANIER NAGLE
http://www.fbidads.org
Georgia Magazine - July 2023

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