Academy at REC TA Michelle Morin donated her professional services to give students a free haircut before the holidays.

At a time of year when giving often takes center stage, the simple act of a haircut can mean so much more.

Students at the Academy at Rensselaer Educational Center received free haircuts a special gift before the holiday recess, thanks to the initiative of a Teaching Assistant at the school.

Michelle Morin has been a licensed cosmetologist for 27 years, and previously taught at Austin Beauty School with Lisa Bonafede, now a teaching assistant in the Cosmetology class at REC. Morin is now a TA at the Academy at REC, after selling her salon in 2016. She also works part time at Hair and Beauty Loft in Loudonville.

Morin says she tries to give back to the community somehow each year, and when staff at the Academy were discussing gifts for the students, she offered to give each student a haircut.

“When you sit down to get your hair done, how do you feel? Why not give that to the kids,” Morin says.

Morin worked with Academy Principal Chris Martel and REC Principal Anthony DeFazio to set up time to use the cosmetology classroom for the haircuts, and even used her industry connections to bring in Master Barber Greg Zorian, owner of Gregory’s Barbershop to help.

The haircuts weren’t just for the Academy students’ benefit – the cosmetology students also got a chance to see professionals practice their craft and see a positive example of how they can use their skills to do good in the community.

Martel says he was thrilled with the event and what it represents.

“I loved that one of our staff, who has been with our team for less than two months, felt empowered to create this event. It provided us an opportunity to help our students feel cared for and build upon our positive and supportive school culture.”

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