Having your parents be in the spotlight for your community can be tough.

“I can just tell when people disagree with my dad, but we’re different people, so it doesn’t bother me,” said sophomore Michaela Blankenship, whose dad, Michael, is on the school board. “… The only thing that affected me was that march on Madison last year where students were holding a sign that said ‘bye bye Blankenship.’ It makes it weird for me at school.” 

Sophomore Jeana Jacobucci’s mom, Tanya, was just elected to the school board in November. But Jacobucci doesn’t think it’s unusual that her mom’s in a public position.

“I think it’s kind of cool,” she said.

Blankenship feels the similar. 

“No, it’s not weird, it’s been awhile and it doesn’t affect me,” Blankenship said.

Both are proud of their parents. 

“She worked really hard to get on (the school board),” Jacobucci said.

Blankenship added: “He advocates for what he believes in and believes in bettering the public school system.”

Jacobucci even helped campaign for her mom.

“I helped her do drive-in type things, handing out candy and stuff like that to help get her name out there,” Jacobucci said. “… She said that stuff needed to change, education-wise, and putting people’s opinion out there and their point of view.”