In a classic Saved by the Bell episode, to Slater’s great chagrin, his mom shows up to deliver his lunch. Although he was the coolest guy in school, all the other kids laughed at Slater. Some students deal with this awkward scene every day!

“It’s really not that bad,” insists sophomore Noelia Roman-Ramos, who sees her mom, Spanish teacher Denise Ramos, at school daily. “There are a lot of privileges to it,” says Roman-Ramos, who appreciates the convenient source of money and food during school hours. Also, Mrs. Ramos can easily talk to Roman-Ramos’s teachers if there is a problem with her grades.

Mrs. Ramos loves teaching in the same school her daughter attends. “It’s not a problem at all. I don’t see anything negative about it,” she says, “It gives me a good sense of security.” During the multiple bomb threats last year, Mrs. Ramos was relieved that she could be sure of her daughter’s safety.

English teacher Amy Branson also values sharing junior daughter Ella Branson’s high school years. “We will have this forever that we experienced high school together,” says Mrs. Branson, “I know a lot of parents feel disconnected from their kids when they’re in high school, but for me it’s great.”

Like Roman-Ramos, Branson occasionally stops by her mom’s classroom for money, food, and computer use. Adds Mrs. Branson, “We always touch base… I love it because I get to see her everyday.” When Branson talks about school issues at homes, Mrs. Branson always appreciates having a perspective on what she is talking about.

Branson and Roman-Ramos are never embarrassed to say hello to their moms in school. “She’s the same here at school with me as she is at home,” says Mrs. Branson. Mrs. Ramos’ daughter is similarly tolerant because her mom tends to be low-key.

Adds Mrs. Ramos, “I’m not in her business. I’m a cool mom!”

Though Mrs. Ramos and Mrs. Branson enjoy seeing their daughters sporadically throughout the school day, neither would enjoy their daughters’ company in a classroom setting. “I would hate to teach her in a class,” says Mrs. Branson, who is sure that her daughter would misbehave.

Mrs. Ramos says she cannot picture her daughter raising her hand and starting a question with, “Señora Mommy?”

Roman-Ramos and Branson rarely ask their moms for extra help in the subject they teach. Mrs. Branson likes to be hands-off with her daughter’s schoolwork. “I told her from the very beginning that she’s responsible for her education,” says Mrs. Branson. “If she needs help I’ll help her, but she doesn’t ask for help.”

Adds Mrs. Ramos, “[Noelia] doesn’t want my help. You know how you kids are, moms don’t know anything.”

For others, having a parent residing in the same school as them is the last thing they want. While science department secretary Jeanne Hagan rarely sees her son, junior Kevin Hagan, she says, “It’s nice seeing kids from the neighborhood.” Moreover, “I can see kind of what he’s going through,” adds Mrs. Hagan.

With Nick Piegari, media services technician and Blake alumnus, and his sister, senior Natalie Piegari, the arts at Blake keep them together. “I don’t think the decision to get a job here was really affected all that much because of Natalie being here,” says Mr. Piegari. “I came back to work here because the people are great and I was already familiar with the things I was working with.”

Although the Piegaris rarely see each other during school, they had the opportunity to interact more during the production of High School Musical. Piegari performed as Martha Cox and Mr. Piegari worked on the video component of the performance. Says Piegari, “It was a lot of fun to work on something that combined both our interests together.”