Over the past 15 years, Keith Schumacher has become recognized as one of the leading voices in father engagement in American schools. Keith did not enter the educational arena as a teacher or principal, he came in as a dad. The husband of a teacher and the father of two adopted daughters, he quickly recognized the absence of other dads participating in the local school. He also noticed that there were few if any male role models even among school staff members for the students.

After initially being turned away from the PTA, he learned about the Watch D.O.G.S. program and proposed it to the principal of his local school. In addition to his role as a senior captain with the Atlanta Fire-Rescue Department, he quickly became a leader in father engagement at the local, and then state and national level. He served for ten years as a National Family and Community Engagement Coordinator with the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) organization.

Upon his retirement from Atlanta Fire-Rescue in 2019, he began serving full-time with the national All Pro Dad Chapters program and has done so for four and a half years. In these roles, Keith has spoken at hundreds of state and national conferences including the American Association of School Administrators, National PTA, American School Counselors Association and the National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement. Keith has literally worked with hundreds of local schools and school districts in overcoming the traditional stereotypes of fathers and perceived their lack of engagement in local schools.

Keith is working to create a culture and environment in which schools provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where fathers regularly engage and participate in the daily activities in local schools. This includes supporting students who do not have an easily recognizable father figure in their life for whatever reason.  

As a national leader, Keith’s goal is to give every child an opportunity to have strong positive role models leading them to the greatest success possible.