New cosmetology program on track to start in Harbor Springs next school year

HARBOR SPRINGS — After a statewide search for an instructor, the Harbor Springs High School cosmetology program is on track to kick off next school year.

In order to lead the class, instructors are required to not only be licensed cosmetologists, but they also need to be licensed instructors, requiring a certain number of hours in the role to teach. To become an instructor, you must have an extra 500 hours of training and education with an active cosmetology license. Those requirements limited the candidate pool here in Northern Michigan, said Harbor Springs High School Principal Leigh Inglehart.

Three candidates are currently in the second round of interviews to fill the role.

More: Harbor Springs to add career tech class in cosmetology for 2024-25

The program is being offered through a partnership with the Char-Em ISD, meaning any student within the ISD’s region will be able to enroll in the course.

The decision to offer the program came after a survey where students said they would be interested in the class.

Inglehart said she’s excited to offer the program because she wants to give students as many opportunities as possible — whether it’s through academics, sports or other extracurriculars — to find their passions and potential career paths.

“And there’s a need,” Inglehart said. “I know in speaking with our local cosmetologists, this is a need for their small businesses. Having a pipeline of potential employees is not only going to help the schools and give the students an opportunity to explore this career path, but potentially it's going to help our local employers.”

“It’s an exciting time and Harbor Springs Public Schools is looking forward to bringing this program to the area, to the community for the students and the employers,” Inglehart added.

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Based on the survey results, Harbor Springs Superintendent Brad Plackemeier thinks there could be both a morning and afternoon session, with up to 16 students being in each section. Juniors and seniors will be eligible to take the class.

Plackemeier said he’s never been in a district that had a cosmetology program before, so hearing from the teaching candidates about what they do and how they do it was exciting for him.

— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: New cosmetology program on track to start at Harbor Springs High School