RHS program preps students for work

Anyone who has ever had a bad haircut can understand the value of having a good hair dresser who knows exactly what you want. Anyone who has ever had a long, hard day can understand the value of a good pedicure or manicure.

Cosmetologists provide important services that many people depend on and Russellville High School and Northwest-Shoals Community College are working together to make sure several girls have adequate training in the field before they even graduate high school.

For four years now, RHS has offered a dual-enrollment cosmetology class where students who are enrolled will receive high school and college credit for the training they receive.

Lisa Keeton, owner of All About You Beauty Salon in Russellville, teaches the class and said she can see the importance of courses like this in the lives of the students she teaches.

“We have some very talented girls taking these classes and many of them are planning on making cosmetology their career,” Keeton said. “By offering this class in high school, they will have an upper edge when it comes to furthering their schooling and finding jobs because they’ll be ahead of other girls their age who didn’t have the option of training in high school.”

The students learn how to cut and style hair, give facials, manicures and pedicures and several other services that any good cosmetologist knows how to perform.

Selina Tomas, a 16-year-old junior, said the class was a deciding factor in how she chose her career path.

“I was thinking about cosmetology but I wasn’t sure if it was something I wanted to do,” Francisco said. “After I started taking classes, I figured out I really liked it and I’m so glad I was able to figure that out before I graduated from high school. Now I have a goal to work towards. Most 16-year-olds don’t have that.”

Breonna Bonds, 18, is a senior so she knows that the real world is looming just around the corner.

“If they hadn’t offered this class, I don’t know if I would’ve figured out what I wanted to do after high school,” Bonds said. “The class is fun but you really learn things, too.”

Keeton said she believes the career technical classes, like cosmetology, really help students in the long run.

“Career technical programs offer the insight of theory-based lessons and incorporate hands-on performance activities,” she said. “These programs also provide an opportunity for the student to apply class credits toward an actual career certification, therefore giving the student a head start in the direction of a successful and productive career.”

Although the class has been very productive in offering career training for many students thus far, funding is definitely an issue, a fact that should come as no surprise since the state department of education is obviously experiencing financially lean times along with much of the rest of the state and nation.

“Since this class is offered as dual enrollment, the cost of a three-hour course at Northwest-Shoals is currently $350,” Keeton said. “When the high school first brought this class in, they wanted to be able to secure funding for half the tuition so the students only had to pay $175, but this year, not all the funding came through.

“Even $175 is a lot for the parents of these kids to have to pay with the way the economic situation is right now, but $350 could make it nearly impossible. And a 16-year-old who is still in high school doesn’t qualify for a Pell grant, even if they’re taking a college class.”

In an effort to help the cosmetology students with the pricey tuition fees, Keeton is looking to the community to help these students achieve their dreams.

“These programs offer real life exposure to the job opportunities out community has to offer,” she said. “It is critical for the community to not only support the school system in these hard economic times but to also support these individual career programs.”

Keeton said community members can support the cosmetology program by making an appointment and seeing what the students have to offer. Four advanced students are ready to take customers at a low rate and provide services such as pedicures, manicures, facials, waxing, hairstyling, roller sets, haircuts, perms and coloring services.

“Teachers in the Russellville City School System are dedicated to provide your children with every advantage possible for the future,” Keeton said. “Teachers depend on parent and community participation as well as support. We as administrators, educators and parents realize it is not only our job but also a passionate challenge to support our up and coming generation on the road to capturing their dreams, and we want to thank the community in advance for supporting us.”

RHS cosmetology students are currently taking appointments for Thursdays and Fridays at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment that will support this program, contact Keeton at lisa.keeton@rcs.k12.al.us.