When a frustrated eighth-grader gets fed up with math work, William Good steps in to do what a busy teacher might not have the time to do.

"I come over and help them if they are confused, and make sure they're focused," said the mentor with Dads in Action, a Richmond County mentorship organization. "I can tell they're paying more attention and focusing on their school work with us there."

The father of two adult sons said it's rewarding to be of help, whether it's lending a hand with math problems or directing morning traffic at Morgan Road Middle School.

This fall, Mr. Good and a group of about 20 other dads began working with students at Morgan Road, Glenn Hills and Tubman middle schools. Dads in Action hopes to bring a positive male influence to hundreds of Richmond County students, many of whom come from single-mother homes, said Richard Roundtree, the group's chairman and an investigator with the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

"You can see the excitement in the children's eyes when we come in," he said. "Many of these kids are not used to getting that attention from male role models."

In March, Investigator Roundtree introduced the program at Morgan Road, and throughout the summer volunteers received training. This year, Dads in Action mentors will assist teachers with disciplinary action, introduce character building workshops and provide any other help needed at the three middle schools. By next year, Investigator Roundtree said, he hopes to have his dads at more schools.

"We want to teach more young men the basic skills of changing a tire or even tying a tie," he said. "If he can't tie a tie, he can't get a job. That's what dads help with, and that's what we're going to be doing."

Mr. Good said he spends many of his 16 volunteer hours each week teaching male youths social skills.

"They sometimes can't express themselves with females or they feel no one understands," he said. "They have us to talk to and share those feelings with."

Morgan Road Middle Principal La Monica Lewis said the mentors have had an effect on the boys and girls at her school. The mentors focus on the more than 200 eighth-graders there every day, she said.

"They're really reaching out and helping to facilitate field trips and assist teachers," she said. "They are willing vessels, and I am very grateful for that."

Reach Stephanie Toone at (706) 823-3215 or stephanie.toone@augustachronicle.com.