'Men in Suits' offer Manatee Elementary School positive role models

BRADENTON -- Working for a united show of force -- in sport jackets, suits, ties or bright red "Mustang Mentor" shirts -- nearly 100 men greeted Manatee Elementary School's students Friday morning with smiles and stickers.

The men, including pastors, Manatee County School Board members, police officers and other community officials, greeted the students as they got to school, ate breakfast with them, shook hands, helped them to class and wished them a good day.

"These kids need to understand how great they are," said Jerry Parrish, a Mustang Mentor.

The "100 Men in Suits" event was a first for the school. Modeled off a similar event in Connecticut, it was designed to show students positive male role models.

Boys need positive male figures, but too many grow up without one, and that rings true at Manatee Elementary as well, said Principal Deb Houston.

"Our kids need to know they matter," she said. "We always had the concept that we take care of our own."

When fifth-grade students Yadira Reyes and Guadalupe Calzada, both 10, arrived at school for safety patrol, they said they were shocked by how many people were on campus.

"I thought 'Whoa, what is today?'" Guadalupe said.

"It was amazing," Yadira said.

The 100 Men in Suits event fits with the school's Mustang Mentor program. Houston hired 17 mentors to work directly in the school with her students.

The program is led by Miguel Albino. Each mentor has at least two students they check in with daily, and the mentors run two programs a week where a guest will come in and talk to the group or the mentors will talk to the students in a group setting.

"This is an awesome kickoff to what we do," he said.

One exciting visitor was Jack Allison, a senior at Palmetto High School and the school's star quarterback. Allison said he visits schools a lot and enjoys working with the students, who often recognize him and say they are excited to come to the football games.

"They're always in such good moods and it's a very happy place," he said. "I just love helping kids and showing them a positive role model."

Ten-year-old Zion Bing said it is fun having the men on campus. Bing, part of the school safety patrol, said he thinks it's important to help people to keep them safe and he enjoyed having the men in suits on campus.

"It was fun," he said.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 6:15 PM with the headline "'Men in Suits' offer Manatee Elementary School positive role models ."