Every school day at 8:20 a.m., history teacher Jerry Sheehy drives into the back parking lot with junior Cole Sheehy — his son — sitting beside him. While Mr. Sheehy rushes to his classroom, Cole walks toward his first- or second-period class.
Relationships between teachers and their children on campus are different for every family, but for the Sheehy family, the experience so far has only been positive.
“I’ve only [had some people tell me things] he says in class that might be funny, but that’s about it,” Cole said. “People at Saratoga are pretty respectful and they don’t speak much about it to me, which is what I prefer.”
Since Mr. Sheehy coaches the JV basketball team, which Cole has been part of for the last two years, they have worked closely as coach and student. Though Cole moved up to the varsity team this year, Mr. Sheehy said he appreciated the opportunity to bond more with Cole and his friends on the team.
Cole has had a similarly positive experience: Having his father on-campus, after transferring to Saratoga High from Westmont High halfway through his freshman year, smoothed the transition.
“Since my dad is working at school, I always know I have a ride and I can have access to the gym to practice basketball at all times,” Cole said.
Last year, Cole took World History, a class his dad teaches. Since school policy doesn’t allow students to have their parent as a teacher, he was placed in history teacher Kirk Abe’s class. However, Mr. Sheehy’s expertise in the subject was occasionally helpful.
Cole said in the rare instances he asked for help with history homework, his father’s explanations were helpful to understanding.
With the pair going together to the school, they have had a lot of fun in the two years they’ve spent together so far.
“I love having him here,” Mr. Sheehy said. “As long as he’s OK and I don’t embarrass him too much, I think that we have a good relationship, and there aren’t really any disadvantages to having him around the campus with me.”
