The cosmetology shop at Worcester Technical High School is taught by Ms. Michele Maltais and Mrs. Arlene Thompson. The cosmetology shop includes hairdressing, esthetics, and nail services. Cosmo students practice and study hard so they are able to pass the state board test senior year and graduate with their cosmetology license.
Cosmo has a salon open to the public that provides services. The services the shop provides include haircuts, hair coloring, highlights, facials, shampoo, scalp treatments, permanent waves, manicures and pedicures, and waxing.
Ms. Michele Maltais is the freshman/sophomore teacher as well as the freshman explore teacher. She has been a cosmetology teacher for 15 years. “I’ve been in the industry since 1981 when I graduated from technical high school and obtained my cosmetology license,’’ she said. Her favorite service to perform is “any kind of color correction service.”
She figured out that she wanted to be in this business in high school when she took cosmetology in the Explore program and found out she had a lot of talent for this. She then graduated and got her license and continued in the industry. Before teaching, Ms. Maltais worked behind the chair in a high-class salon.
Ms.Maltais’ favorite thing about teaching is the teenagers because they “keep her on her toes.” They keep her updated with what’s in with fashion and music. Although “there are so many things they need to learn,” her favorite subject to teach her students is hair cutting because it helps her students “understand geometry a little bit more.”
One of the reasons why she would tell other students to pick this shop is because “working behind the chair is like going to a party everyday.” She explains the joy that being a hairstylist brings her by making other people happy. Also, she loves the power that hairdressers have in changing someone’s self-esteem. She says, “You transform not only their hair, but you actually do transform their lives”.
Ms. Maltais also teaches the Freshmen Explore students and what she enjoys most about teaching them is that “ they are almost like little sponges… and most of them are very appreciative of what we teach them.” Even though both jobs include cosmetology, teaching in a shop and working behind the chair are both very different. Ms. Maltais enjoys both equally.
Mrs. Arlene Thompson is the related theory teacher for all grades as well as the department head. Mrs. Thompson says she has been doing cosmetology for forty years, which is why she chose to become an educator. She finds teaching to be a “wonderful opportunity to teach young students, especially if they have a passion for the trade.
Mrs. Thompson has been the department head of Cosmo for over 13 years. She says, “Being department head is a lot of responsibility and a lot of paperwork, but I do enjoy it.” She always makes sure the students and her department are on track. Mrs. Thompson states, “Being department head is great. I enjoy it and I’ve got a great staff of teachers working under me.”
Mrs. Thompson worked behind the chair for over 25 years. She worked in three different salons. The last salon she was in was the salon she worked in for 25 years.
Running a salon in school is challenging in different ways. The salon is client-based and people come because “the price is right.” The Cosmo teachers make sure to tell clients that all work is done by students and they as teachers stand behind the chair to make sure everything is being done correctly throughout the whole process.
Thompson says that Related Theory classes are the “nuts and bolts behind cosmetology. Students need to understand that they have to pass that part of the exam and if students only pass the hands-on part, they will not get their license.”
She advises her students that “Being very knowledgeable with related theory makes you a better stylist, because now when someone comes in and asks you questions you can give them honest concrete answers and sound really smart.” Her favorite thing about teaching is being “surrounded by young students,” because they make her “feel young.” She enjoys it when they finally “get it.”
Worcester Technical High School’s Cosmetology license passing rate is close to 100% because of the dedicated and passionate teachers and students in the shop.