Each year, Questar III BOCES celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month®, a time to celebrate our students and the opportunities CTE provides. While our students are learning the technical skills required to fill employment needs across our region, state, and country, they’re also developing the soft skills to become great employees and leaders. When a student chooses a CTE program, they’re choosing more than just job training; they’re choosing to be prepared for what comes next, whether that’s college, advanced training, or an immediate career in the workforce. We’re honored to provide them with that foundation.
Join us throughout the month of February as we celebrate all things CTE. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to learn more about our programs and our students.
Questar III BOCES Cosmetology student Helen Ketzer is a senior at Robert H. Gibson Technical School from East Greenbush Central School District. Through this program, Helen will have the opportunity to earn her New York State cosmetology license after completing the required 1,000 hours of instruction – more than what’s required by the typical CTE student. As per the state, the license will allow Helen to “provide service to the hair, head, face, neck, or scalp of a human being, including but not limited to shaving, trimming, and cutting the hair or beard either by hand or mechanical appliances” and more. Students in this program are required to attend summer sessions to earn the additional instructional hours required of the program.
Helen first became interested in hair during COVID when she taught herself how to braid and experimented with hairstyles. Her new self-taught skills were put to good use once schools reopened.
“I was called the ‘Team Braider’ on my cross country and track teams. I just love putting a smile on people’s faces by doing their hair,” shared Helen. “When I later learned about this program, I thought, ‘this sounds fun, I can definitely see myself doing hair,’ and here I am now!”
This program ensures students are proficient in the skills required to pass the state board, including perms, pin curls, finger waves, rollers, blow drying, styling with a marcella iron, hair coloring, and more. But Helen especially enjoyed the styling unit.
“I love styles and updos,” Helen said. “I have fun just blowing out my friends’ hair, curling it, styling it, doing prom updos. Those are my favorite things.”
Seniors are just now diving into hair coloring, which Helen admitted she was looking forward to. However, she got a sneak peek at the process last summer when she completed a 100 hour internship at James Allison Salon in Rensselaer.
“It was a great experience,” shared Helen. “I got to see the stylists do all their color treatments – gray coverage, balayage, and everything else. It was cool to see women in the industry doing this and earning a lot of money for these services.”
With the addition of her internship, summer session, and volunteer hours, Helen anticipates hitting her required 1,000 hours this spring and hopes to take her licensing exam in May. When asked about the benefit of taking this program, her answer made it seem like a no brainer.
“It’s free,” said Helen. “That’s one of the biggest ones. You’re also learning all these skills in high school, too, so you’re getting an earlier start than someone in their 20’s who’s paying a lot of money to attend a hair school. Being here, you’re getting the education for free, you’re getting major benefits from it, and you’re getting a head start to your career.”
After she earns her license and high school diploma, Helen will attend Hudson Valley Community College in the fall.
“I want to get my business degree,” stated Helen. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to work part time in a salon while in college before moving to full time. And one day, I want to be a salon owner. Building a ‘Hair by Helen Salon,” I think that would be amazing.”