BY JIM MASTERS
LANSING, Ill. (March 25, 2021) – Thornton Fractional South High School students interested in becoming a barber or cosmetologist don’t necessarily have to go off to school after graduation to learn the skills they need to launch such a career. They can learn the trade while they’re in high school.
Barbering and cosmetology for high schoolers
On March 23, the District 215 Board of Education approved an $828,000 bid from Complete Construction Resources of Chicago Heights, IL to build its Cosmetology/Barber Studio at TF North High School. Accordingly, TF South students enrolled in the program will be bused to TF North.
Up to 22 current sophomores will be selected for the inaugural class in the fall. The students must complete 1,500 clinical hours during their junior and senior years to earn their certifications. They will spend their weekday mornings in the studio, as well as some weekends and summer hours. Graduates of the program will be eligible to obtain a professional license in cosmetology or barbering.
The new program will emphasize essential salon and barbering services and techniques. Customer service, client retention, salon retailing, marketing, and people schools will also be part of the instruction.
The studio will be located in an unused space at TF North, which previously housed the district’s auto mechanics program moving to the Thornton Fractional Center for Academics and Technology.
A video introduction to the program can be viewed here.
How to get started
District 215 will hold an informational meeting via Zoom on April 15 at 6 p.m. for sophomores interested in learning more about the program. A flyer for the event is available here.
An online application must be completed no later than April 22. Students interested in careers as a hair stylist, barber, nail technician or wig maker are encouraged to apply.
Interested students should contact John Robinzine, principal of the Center for Academics and Technology, via email: [email protected].
Related
- District 215 to bring students back to school starting April 19 (March 24, 2021)
