03 May Barber Hopefuls in Pittsburg Unified Get ‘Game-Changer’ of a Course

Young aspiring hairstylists competed in the School’s Out Barber Battle in Pittsburg last year. Soon, a new class at Pittsburg Unified schools will clear a path for students looking to work in the field. (Denis Perez-Bravo / CC Pulse file)

By Samantha Kennedy

District officials say the class is going to be a game-changer for students.

Pittsburg Unified plans to offer a new course next year that will fulfill college requirements and could help students bypass the high costs of additional schooling to become a licensed barber.

The course, Advance Barbering, would act as a capstone for students already enrolled in the Intro to Barbering class. It would also create a career technical education pathway by counting as an apprenticeship that is required for a license.

Once students complete the program, the idea is that they’d only have to take the exam.

“Being able to do that would be a game-changer,” said school board member Heliodoro Moreno at the Wednesday meeting. “There is a lot of hours they got to do, so I don’t know how they’re going to be able to manage that, but however they’re able to do that, that would be huge because that’s very cost-prohibitive for many, many students.”

Barbering school and certification can cost an upwards of $20,000 and at least 1,000 hours of schooling, according to Kirsten Wollenweber, secondary education coordinator. Students have requested the course so they won’t have to pay as much to start their career after school.

Student board member Alaysia Delk said that the district supporting students rather than them having to foot the cost after graduation is part of what she wants to see in terms of equity.

“It gives people a chance to not necessarily be ahead, but to not be behind,” said Delk. “I’m so passionate about people and them getting what they need and what they deserve, and this is exactly what that is.”

Officials said the course will be offered at both Pittsburg and Black Diamond high schools, with future discussions set to take place to expand the course to adult education.

But, if students do decide to go the four-year college route, Advance Barbering will also count toward the A-G requirements for California public universities, fulfilling the “F,” or fine arts, requirement.

The course “integrates artistic principles, design aesthetics, and creative expression into the technical and business aspects of barbering,” according to the course description submitted by teacher Tracy Clark.

The business aspect of the class also adds another benefit to students.

Starting with the graduating class of 2030-31, California high schoolers will be required to take a one-semester financial literacy course. Superintendent Janet Schulze said she’s confident this class will meet that requirement.

“We’ll still develop the standalone course, but we want to have options for our students because Mr. Clark puts in so many of the entrepreneurial components if you’ve been in his class,” said Schulze.

Clark told The Pulse last year that he started the introductory barbering class in 2018 after seeing students cutting hair in unlikely settings.

“Let’s bring y’all in, with open arms, and show y’all we can do it,” Clark said then about the students.

Students will be able to sign up for the course beginning this upcoming fall.