There’s learning a skill in class, and then there’s using that skill with a real customer, in a real business environment, with real expectations.
Students in the Nail Technician Program at Rockdale Career Academy are getting to do exactly that through Pretty & Polished Nail Salon, a student-run enterprise designed to prepare them for careers in the beauty and wellness industry.
With support from a Rockdale Education Foundation grant, the program has been able to strengthen the salon experience with professional supplies and resources that help students practice at the level they will encounter after graduation.
The goal is much bigger than learning how to do nails. Students are building technical skills while also learning customer service, professionalism, appointment management, consultation, entrepreneurship, and the day-to-day responsibilities of running a business.
And the community has responded.
At two recent no-cost salon events, more than 60 available appointments at each event were filled in less than 20 minutes! This is a strong sign that students are providing a service the community is excited to support.
Feedback from those events also helped students think like business owners. Customers asked for a broader, professional-level polish selection and a more streamlined digital check-in process. Those suggestions became part of the program’s next steps as students continue working toward a salon experience that reflects current industry standards.
Your generous support has provided our students with the professional supplies and hands-on experiences needed to prepare for successful careers as nail technicians. This grant has made a meaningful impact on their education, confidence, and career readiness.”
~ Diwan Majors, RCA instructor and grant applicant
That is exactly why REF invests in classroom innovation.
A grant can purchase supplies. But what those supplies can create is confidence, experience, opportunity, and a clearer path from school to career.
We’re proud to support the students and educators at Rockdale Career Academy as they continue doing things The RCA Way: Respectful, Career-Ready, and Accountable.
This is what your support makes possible.