LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When called to the office, most middle schoolers take their time getting there, but on Mondays, Newburg Middle School students can’t wait to go to coach Ronnie Stoner’s office. 

“I would essentially transition this office into my barbershop. I would take this desk and move it off to the side and set a barber chair directly in the middle of my office,” said Stoner.

He would add a barber and music, salon signs to give students the full barbershop experience and a free fresh haircut. 

He started repurposing his office space after an encounter in the hallway with a student.

“The young sixth-grader who was crying because his hair needed to be cut and he didn't have the means, opportunity to do so,” said Stoner.

Stoner took that student to his barbershop to get his hair cut. When the student returned to school, he shared what the coach did for him with other students.

When other students came to him for help with getting a haircut, Stoner realized grooming was an issue for many of his students. 

He said another student wore a hoodie to cover up his uncut hair. Another wrote a letter asking permission to wear hats because he didn't feel confident without a haircut. 

After months of repurposing his office, the school’s teacher's lounge has been transformed into Kutz 4 Kidz. 

Kutz 4 Kidz is the state’s first licensed in-school barbershop.

Ka’Shon Davis, pictured with his mom and coach Stoner, wrote a letter to the principal asking permission to wear a hat when he didn’t have a haircut. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley N. Brown)

CJ Carter will be the man behind the clippers. 

Carter has been boosting confidence one cut at a time since he picked up the clippers and learned to cut his hair in the fourth grade. 

“Once you see yourself in a new light, you're fresh, fresh lineup fresh haircut, sky's the limit on how you feel. For young men in this day and age, confidence is a must. Not lack of confidence, you know, leads to despair, at least in other places,” said Carter. 

Carter is excited to be a resource for students through conversation. He will volunteer on Mondays to cut hair at the school.

“I think that's something that they'll really really value too is the relationship that we're able to build, and who doesn't like to get fresh?” said Carter.

Stoner believes the in-school barbershop will lead to educational and lifestyle growth. 

“They're going to walk these halls with a different kind of walk. They're going to communicate differently. They're going to learn differently,” said Carter.

Seventh-grader Emmanuel Matsekeza was the first Kutz 4 Kidz client. 

“The first thing you do when you get a haircut is you look in the mirror to see if you look good, and when you look in the mirror and you look good, you just start to feel like you can take on the world,” said Matsekeza. 

With his new cut, he’s now ready to do just that. 

Kutz 4 Kidz is sponsored by the Jo Adell Foundation. 

Adell, an outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, is the son of Newburg Middle School’s principal.