School Owner Insights

Four PBA members share their perspectives on the challenges and rewards of school ownership.

What's the most rewarding part of running a school?

When a graduate calls and says that they are fully committed with guests. I love watching them the first day of school, with all their virgin hair! The Beauty School Transformation is visual and internal. They gain confidence, professionalism and the skills they need to have a career and be self sufficient. I have the best job!

What's most challenging?

Finding passionate and consistent educators. Building a strong education team (just like in a salon or spa) takes a lot of time and planning. Educators in a school are expected to know their craft, have administrative skills, be a coach, be a mom, be a mentor, remember state board, have industry experience, and be creative in an environment where we all need to speak the same educational language. It's a challenging career with amazing rewards; there are unique people that do it extremely well... It's just hard to find 'em!

Is there anything you wish you could tell the full industry about the school experience?

Two words...organized chaos! We are not only training a group of creative artists in the craft of hair and skin, we are coaching them to develop life skills. We deal with all the same challenges of any college campus-date rape, substance abuse, domestic challenges and everyday life stuff! Remember how much you evolved from age 18 to 21?

Deedee K. Carlson
PBA Salon/Spa Member
San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology
San Francisco, CA

Why did you get into the school business?

After working with salon and spa owners for over 10 years [as Managing Director of PBA's salon/spa section], I felt I could contribute to the industry in a way that would be meaningful. I understood both sides of the proverbial "coin." I knew the employers goals and insights, and I felt that I could add to the educational side of the industry because I was also well aware of the school owners' world.

What's the most rewarding part of running a school?

People. To support our people (staff and students), we run a business-minded and strengths-focused organization. We have kicked off Marcus' Buckingham's program on strengths for both our staff and students as an added investment in how valuable we think people are and how much they count. Our curriculum is top-notch, our technology is amazing, our products incredible, our facility inspires good things, our educational partners remain committed, but at the core of Kohler Academy is the deeply held belief that People Matter. It drives everything we do.

What's most challenging?

The most challenging aspect to running our school is ensuring that everyone is learning. There are many moving parts in a school, and it is easy to get caught up in events, compliance, time clocks, hot water, dispense, rules and situations that can drain time and energy. I am constantly asking my educators, "Are you teaching?" and constantly asking our students, "Are you learning?" If we have leadership that inspires, educators that teach and students that learn, we can provide what we promise-which is extraordinary education every day.

Jill Kohler
PBA Salon/Spa Member
Kohler Academy
Scottsdale, AZ

Why did you get into the school business?

I have been a school owner for nearly 14 years now... I got into the school industry because after 7 years of owning successful salons, I was frustrated with the quality of the new stylists that were interviewing for jobs. New applicants had very little confidence in their technical skills, and more importantly, knew almost nothing about success skills and how to build a clientele. I knew schools could be better and decided to get involved.

I felt students needed three things. First, a beautiful salon environment that made them proud to be a stylist and prepared them for the atmosphere of a high-end salon. Second, the opportunity to work on a modern clientele, lots of haircuts, hair color and styling so that they leave school with confidence. Third, and most importantly, a business curriculum that teaches them the success skills needed to get a good job and make great money.

Is there anything you wish you could tell the full industry about the school experience?

I believe the industry should know that there are now many great schools and more starting all the time. I have seen a complete turn around. In fact, I now think our #1 challenge in the industry is teaching more salon owners these same business and success skills so that the opportunities for growth in this wonderful industry continue.

Larry Curtis
PBA Salon/Spa Member
Taylor Andrews Academy of Hair Design
West Jordan, UT

Is there anything you wish you could tell the full industry about the school experience?

We hear the cries of salon owners who feel they cannot find qualified help and that the schools are not training them properly, and/or that most graduates have insufficient skills to be able to walk from the school into the salon and be able to compete and work with the "seasoned" professionals.

Why is the chasm so wide between the expectations within the industry factions? If the governmental agencies are only concerned with the newly licensed professionals being able to pass minimal competencies that assure the licensing body that they have enough knowledge to be safe to work on the public, but not necessarily enough to be able to successfully earn a living wage, why isn't there more grass-roots support to elevate and standardize the requirements from state to state that would create a valid credential?

If the product that is being delivered to you is always sub standard, maybe it's time to offer your assistance to the school to affect some changes... Schools want their students to be hire-able. They really want to produce a product that is in demand, and they want to be able to point other potential professionals to the better salons where stylists can earn a living...

What's the most rewarding part of running a school?

At any given time, you are called on to fix a leaky drain while you are trying to make sure the state investigator for the board has all of the necessary records to do their audit and inspection, meanwhile you may have a student graduating, a new class starting, an unhappy customer... But then, the one student you never thought would get color theory and/or the application technique mastered, quietly comes into the office, asks politely if you have a minute, and when you expect them to say, "I'm through, I quit," they get a really big grin on their face and say "I GOT IT!, I DID IT! And can you please please please come and look at it?"... The satisfaction of knowing you made a difference carries you forward to try it over and over again.

Linda Mottishaw
PBA Salon/Spa Member
School of Hairstyling
Chubbuck, ID