Peoria students earn hairdressing licenses through the school program

Peoria (25News now) – The students from the Peoria Public Schools receive practical training to become free hairdressers at the Woodruff Technical and Technical Center (WCTC).

Currently there are 20 – 25 students in Barbering program. Nine of them are at Debonair cut barbershop Located in Northwoods Mall.

To be eligible, students must currently participate in manual high schools, Richwoods or Peoria. Students share the training time between their high schools and WCTC.

The class of the Richwoods High School in 2023, Sabri Qattum, obtained his state barber license through the WCTC program. He said he opens his own barbershop over the coming months.

“I was very intrigued by this, but I never thought it was my career,” Qattum said. “When I realized that we actually have a program in which we could get our license and become professionals when we leave high school, it was a brainless for me.”

Barber Shon Allen for a long time leads the instructions and is assisted by Rodderick Higgins.

Allen said that some of the instructions take place at the WCTC and, once the teachers believe that a student is ready, Allen and Higgins bring them to Barber Shop as trainees.

Students need 1,500 hours of training to win a state barbering license.

“This program is preparing students to open their own business directly from the high school,” said Allen. “The program is paid by the district. This is a program from 18,000 to $ 20,000 and you can get it in high school. “

“We never try to teach them to cut like us,” Higgins said. “We always try to teach them to develop their own style and find other techniques that suit them.”

Five students have already passed the state exam and are paid to work in the store. A student, Qattum, opens his store in the coming months.

Senior students Richwoods Jahliyl Booker and Cody Zeller come to the mall after school to win a few days a week.

“You do not get to experience (consulting) in many professions,” Zeller said. “This is one of the few professions you have this interaction with people. I will get a lot out of here and not just cutting your hair. I learn how to improve myself as a human being. “

Booker said he wanted to cut the hair from the eighth grade. His inspiration came from his cousin, who is also a hairdresser.

“What I hope to win in Barbering is just to make people happy. So, I felt that I could make people happy and smile at a great haircut, “said Booker.

WCTC has 16 programs available for junior and senior students who prepare them for their future careers.

For more information, go to WCTC Web site.

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