Hawley High School begins cosmetology program: ‘it saves them a lot of money’
HAWLEY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Students at Hawley High School now have the opportunity to graduate with a cosmetology license. The district began the program as an effort to bring more career and technical education programs to students.
Hawley High’s Principal Nikki Grisham said she’s spent more than a year researching and visiting other area programs to ensure success at Hawley. Why? She said a college degree isn’t necessarily required to be successful.
“After graduation, they go right into the work field and there are students who go out and do college, and that’s great and that’s right for some kids. But for some kids, that’s not what their career path is,” explained Principal Grisham.
Rebecca Shields, a junior at Hawley HS, told KTAB/KRBC she’s always known that she wanted to be in the beauty industry. Happily so, she was one of the first 10 in her class.
“It took me a second to get down on cutting. I just felt like I was going to mess it up, ’cause hair doesn’t regrow on the dolls,” Rebecca laughed.
For sophomore Alex Cadena, one of only four young men in this program, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
“Haircuts, we do waxing, facials, and cleaning our hair at the stations,” listed Alex.
Although cosmetology is more of a woman-dominated industry, Alex said anyone can be a cosmetologist.
“You don’t just think it’s a girls job. You can be a barber, a cosmetologist, a girl can be a barber, too,” Alex said.
Heading up the program is Sera Rivera, who went through a cosmetology program at her high school. She said that experience helps her understand her Hawley students better.
“Making mistakes in this industry is part of it, so I’m like, ‘do all the mistakes here in school, ’cause when you get out there, it will be a little different,'” explained Rivera, of her teaching technique.
Not only are students learning the same skills they would at an external cosmetology school, but they’re saving money in the process.
“It can cost you anywhere from $15 grand to get into the program, so for them to do it in high school, it saves them a lot of money,” Rivera assured.
With any new school program, it can be expensive to start, but principal Grisham said Hawley’s program was able to cut down on that cost by buying their supplies from another district.
“They decided to do away with their cosmetology program, and it was good for us because we got all this stuff. Probably 95% of what’s in this room, we bought from them at a really good price,” added Principal Grisham.
Hoping to bring more career and technical education programs to Hawley ISD in the next coming months, there will be a new building added to the high school in hopes of growing its cosmetology program.
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