Mental health first
More counselors, protected wellness days, and start times that respect how teenagers actually sleep and learn.
STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD · MCPS
A real seat for
real students.
I'm Yasha, a Montgomery Blair student running to be your voice on the Board of Education — fighting for fairer schedules, mental health support, and decisions made with students, not about them.
What I'm running on
Four commitments I'll carry into every Board vote, shaped by students across the county.
Fair grading & workload
Consistent policies across schools so your grade reflects your learning — not which building you were assigned to.
Equity in every school
Funding, AP access, and facilities shouldn't depend on your zip code. I'll push resources where they're needed most.
Students at the table
Regular open forums and real surveys so the Board hears from you before the vote, not after it.
Why me, why now
I'm a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, and for three years I've watched smart policy ideas stall because students were an afterthought. As class president and a debate captain, I learned how to turn frustration into action that actually moves a room.
The Student Member of the Board isn't a symbolic seat — it's a vote. I'll use it to bring the county's 160,000 students into rooms where decisions about our days get made.
Read the full plan →Pledge your vote for Yasha.
Every MCPS student in grades 6–12 can vote. Add your name and I'll make sure you know exactly when and how.
How to vote
SMOB elections happen in the spring. If you're in grades 6 through 12 in Montgomery County Public Schools, you're eligible to cast a ballot through your school.
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1
Check your eligibility
Any MCPS student in grades 6–12 can vote in the general election.
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Watch for the ballot
Your school distributes the online ballot on election day each spring.
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Vote Yasha Van Praagh
Find my name, cast your vote, and tell a friend to do the same.