Before the Bell Rings at KIPP Inspire: How the Breakfast Club Creates Space for Young Men to Thrive

ST. LOUIS — At KIPP Inspire Middle School, a group of young men starts their mornings with something many of them need more of: Space, grace, and the chance to simply be kids.

Twice a week, students gather with mentor and coach Earl Dockett for The Breakfast Club, a program created with a clear purpose: To impact the number of discipline referrals and suspensions among Black male students. Rather than responding with punishment, they asked a different question: What would happen if students were given time, support, and understanding before problems escalated?

The Breakfast Club was designed to be that space, a consistent, supportive environment where young men can build relationships, reflect, and start the day grounded in shared values. Through guided discussions, journaling, and friendships formed over breakfast, students are encouraged to show up as their best selves, free from labels and assumptions.

The need for this kind of support is significant. Many of the young men in the program carry stress well beyond their years, navigating family responsibilities, instability, and exposure to community violence. In fact, just two weeks prior to this interview, a former Breakfast Club member lost his life to gun violence, a sobering reality for many children. These realities shape how students arrive at school each day and reinforce why intentional, 

In Missouri, data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shows that over a ten-year period, Black male students, who make up approximately 15 percent of the total student population, account for roughly 40 percent of student suspensions.

At KIPP Inspire Middle School, the impact of The Breakfast Club is measurable. When the program began, discipline referrals for these boys dropped by 20 percent across the building, a meaningful reduction driven by early intervention, connection, and trust.

Recently, the Missouri Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) honored The Breakfast Club as a STL Charter School Innovation Award winner. This award recognizes innovative educational practices deliveringreal results, awarding the program a $4,000 cash prize to support its continued work.

The Breakfast Club mentor, Mr. Dockett, brings deep personal understanding to his role. He grew up in St. Louis with a single mother who lost her arm yet worked tirelessly to care for her family. He knows what it means to carry adult responsibilities at a young age — and how rarely young men are given permission to simply be children.

“Every kid needs a little extra love,” said Dockett. “And sometimes that love starts with listening.”

Today, Mr. Dockett serves as the Athletic Director and Assistant Culture Leader at KIPP Inspire Academy. Though he could work elsewhere, he chooses to invest in the community that raised him, helping young men see themselves differently and imagine what’s possible.

When asked about their futures, many Breakfast Club participants share a common goal: Giving back to their community.

The MCPSA award will help sustain and expand The Breakfast Club, ensuring more students have access to a program that proves what can happen when schools lead with relationships, not referrals.