Inspiring fathers to make a difference
At Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School, fathers are valued for the impact they can have as positive role models, and campus security officer Joseph Thomas, with his son by his side, is showing them how to be more engaged.
Thomas knows the importance of having a present father figure, which is why he started the chapter of All Pro Dad, a national organization, at the school. The goal is to get more fathers involved and strengthen family ties.
Launched in 1997 by an NFL head coach, the national program is based on a sports draft model that encourages fathers to be engaged in their children’s lives.
“I was inspired by my college classmate, a former NFL player who also started an All Pro Dad chapter,” Thomas said. “I felt like this was the platform we needed in Dallas ISD.”
Thomas’ vision has since spread to other schools, leading to districtwide collaboration with Partnership and Volunteer Engagement Services, as well as Dallas ISD Security Services.
While at the University of Notre Dame, Thomas was a student-athlete and earned a bachelor’s degree. Though his dreams of playing professional football did not materialize, he decided early on that he would use his career to support others. His college’s culture also prepared him for a lifelong commitment to community impact.
His son, Jayvon Thomas, a Class of 2023 cornerback and graduate from South Oak Cliff High School, is following in his footsteps.
“We decided to collaborate. My son understands that I grew up without a father,” said Thomas, who said he knew he was destined to be a great father himself. “Jayvon gives back by using portions of his NIL money to fund breakfast for the program, and I do all of the groundwork.”
After winning back-to-back state championships with the Golden Bear Football Team in 2021 and 2022, Thomas’ son obtained a Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with Texas A&M University where he has continued to be successful both on and off the field.
On April 19, at a Texas A&M home game, the All Pro Dad and Family First national organization honored Thomas and his son with certificates and public recognition, for their outstanding impact in the Dallas community.
“I am preparing my son to take on the mantle and continue the work that I have already started,” Thomas said.
The All Pro Dad Chapter at Wilmer-Hutchins supports fathers through daily one-minute emails, and holds monthly meetings an hour before school that equip them with parenting tools. The meetings include serving breakfast and a special moment to celebrate their contributions as parents.
In October, Thomas and fellow All-Pro Dad Chapter members gathered for an interactive day of fun at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium. Modeled after an NFL combine, the event gave fathers a chance to bond with their children in a familiar setting.
Continuing to lead by example, Thomas is also bringing attention to men’s health and the silent symptoms of heart-related issues through a wellness clinic led by the school nurse. 
“I realized that I can’t be an all-pro dad if I am not healthy,” he said, acknowledging that being a great father means not just being present, but living a long, active life.
For the past 23 years in Dallas ISD, Thomas has been a mentor to students at each of the schools he has served, inspiring the fathers and teachers around him to do the same.
“I hope that the students learn the skills they need in life,” Thomas said. “I want to give them a good foundation so when they are faced with hard times, they know that they will be okay—and that they are equipped to continue their education and make the world a better place.”
As a child growing up in South Dallas, Thomas credits his success in school and adulthood to Ricky Lewis, his high school athletic director. While Thomas was a student at Lincoln High School, Lewis took him under his wing—changing his life for the better and setting him on a path to success.
“None of this in my life would be possible if Coach Ricky didn’t invest in me. My life is a win,” Thomas said. “I know he had high hopes for me to go to the NFL and pursue that dream, but besides going all-pro in football, I wanted to go all-pro with my family. That matters way more to me than the downs I played on the field, and that cycle will continue now.”
