NEWPORT, Ky. — Stephanie Abney has been a teacher in Newport almost seven years. She’s a 4th grade science teacher at Newport Intermediate School. Abney also helps students with their hair in the morning through the Hair Club.
Abney said the idea stemmed from wanting to ensure better success in students. She believes something as simple as hair can be the key.
“Because I know how hard it is sometimes when my hair is not doing what I want it to do,” said Abney.
Students can come into a room in the morning to have their hair done by Abney. Sometimes she goes to classrooms to see who wants their hair done. Students will sit on a stool and she pulls out a basket full of supplies for the Hair Club on a cart.
“They all get their own bags, brushes, combs, and they can choose from scrunchies or there’s bows and stuff down there too,” she said.
As long as Abney can do it, students can tell her what hairstyle they want. While she’s brushing and styling hair, she strikes up conversations with students. She’ll ask about their week, their morning, and if they’re looking forward to anything for the weekend.
“I’m trying to gage how they’re doing, how their day has started, so I know what kind of things to put in place to support them a little more,” she said.
Abney wants to see the Hair Club grow in the future.
“To have a basket for every grade level, so the teachers in the grade levels can, if they’d like to, do it down there on their floor,” she said.
Some students may not have the ability to come in to school with their hair styled and making this come to life helps with that.
“A lot of our kids, some of them don’t have adults at home [to] help them. So this is just one way to not only build relationships but to also help them start their morning better,” Abney said.
It’s an initiative to build confidence and student success. Abney said it’s grown over time.
“It was one or two and now I’ve got a whole bucket full from multiple grade levels,” she said.
Abney says she wouldn’t trade what she does with the Hair Club for anything in the world.