Preschool Director’s Books Make Room for Classroom Dads

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 21, 2026) — As director of the Child Development Lab in North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Jawan Burwell ‘14, Ed.D., has experienced many, many story times for kids.

What Burwell hasn’t seen enough of is fathers telling those stories. Fathers and male caregivers are much less likely than mothers, grandmothers, and other women to be involved in their children’s preschool experiences. He’s on a mission to change that, and help fathers and father figures participate in their children’s educational journeys, with a particular emphasis on Black fathers and other fathers of color. Recently, he’s written two books that address the issue.

“Society has painted this picture that fathers are the breadwinners; they provide for the household, and that’s it,” said Burwell. “But that limits what fathers can be and what children can experience.”

Burwell’s children’s book, Daddy’s Classroom: A Journey of Learning Together, tells a story rooted in his own childhood. The character Marquis is actually a young Burwell, the father figure is based on his father, and the teacher is a version of his brother,  also an early childhood educator. Together, these characters reflect the meaningful influence fathers, male caregivers, and male educators can have on young children and their communities. It’s a book for children, but also a powerful tool for adults to understand why father involvement matters.

“The book is also meant for adults – our fathers and also our teachers,” said Burwell. “Teachers must advocate and encourage fathers to let them know that it’s ok to come into a classroom and work with their children.”

His second book, Engaging Fathers: Strategies for Inclusive Family Partnerships in Early Childhood, delves deeper, offering educators, administrators, higher education faculty, family engagement specialists, social service professionals and community leaders concrete strategies for creating father-friendly cultures in their programs.

The books have made Burwell a star in some circles; Daddy’s Classroom is a five-star Amazon bestseller in the childcare category. Engaging Fathers also has garnered attention among educators for its practical advice.

The landscape is complex, but Burwell’s message remains consistent. Fathers want to be involved in their young children’s education; they simply need the opportunity, the invitation, and the assurance that they belong.