MODERN SALON's Excellence in Education annual recognition program celebrates leading cosmetology schools, highlighting innovative programs and best practices in eight categories and two divisions (single location and multi-unit schools).The 2015 Excellence in Education honorees were announced October 24 at the American Association of Cosmetology Schools conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Among 38 schools recognized, top honorees were named in each category. In this Excellence in Education Spotlight series, MODERN SALON connects with each of the top honorees to further explore programs and how schools are collaborating to develop the future of professional beauty.  Here, a closer look at the 2015 top honoree in The Next Level, multiple locations:

On-demand education through a proprietary app, complementary advanced education classes and a prestigious photo competition all make TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academies stand out when it comes to giving alumni everything they need to succeed.

SETTING UP FOR SUCCESS
Students who graduate from one of the 24 TONI&GUY Academies across the country leave school armed with advanced education resources, a network of salons and professionals and a 50 percent discount for life on all TONI&GUY education.

One of these resources is TONI&GUY’s app, exclusive to students, staff and alumni. It allows access to the TONI&GUY hair collections and curriculum through videos and tutorials, and also gives users the opportunity to build and store head sheets and create a cloud-based portfolio.  The head sheets show the steps and include styling techniques to achieve a look.

Caroline Mascolo, VP of Marketing, explains, “The app is updated every year and students have access to the curriculum section, collections and portfolios. We’re really excited about the portfolio section—students can take photos of clients and their work and put it in the portfolio. It’s then shared within a social network in the entire TONI&GUY community.”

Devon Ray, national education director, says, “Students have access to the app for life for free. It has basic education for every learner—step by steps, videos, diagrams, etc—but also has work for the advanced hair dresser.”

TONI&GUY also releases any updates to collections to students and alumni via the app, keeping everyone current and on the cutting edge of style.

Creative Director of the Americas, Zak Mascolo, is also playing a big role in keeping TONI&GUY alumni on trend. Twice a year, Mascolo travels with the advanced education team to every Academy in the country to give complimentary advanced education courses to alumni and Academy instructors. The team teaches cut and color techniques from new collections and new methods for photoshoots.

Kent Movchan, vice president of company owned academies, accompanies the team to talk to alumni about the TONI&GUY culture and direction of the company.

“Alumni who attend can also bring anyone they want from their salon for free,” Movchan says. “We also visit salons in the area of the academies when we do the tour.”

The tour is a tough travel schedule, but Movchan maintains the team loves the opportunity to step into every academy for face-to-face time with alumni and faculty.

But perhaps one of the most exciting opportunities for alumni is the Photographic Awards competition and event. Once a year, the new collection release and awards event is open to all students, alumni and employees. Zak Mascolo and the TONI&GUY Art Team debut the new cut and color techniques for the year and in the evening, the awards are announced.

Entrants can submit photos to compete in the following categories: total look, cut, color, make-up, fantasy, avant garde, and editorial. Students and alumni are flown to the awards at a special rate and special awards for TIGI Colorist of the Year and Hairdresser of the Year are also given.

“Our motto is we want to keep giving back,” says Movchan. “Education is constantly changing, and if you have an outlet for alumni to receive that, you stay relevant. That’s why we give a 50-percent discount on education for life. Some salons don’t offer advanced education, but alumni can always come back to TONI&GUY.”

SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT

Name of school: TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy

Location: Plano, Texas

Owner: TONI&GUY Hairdressing Academy

Established: September 1990

Average enrollment: Around 90 (24 Academies across the country; eight company owned and sixteen franchise locations)

Best student perk: “The accessibility of the artistic team,” Movchan says. “Students receive the gift of ongoing education and being provoked by creative hairdressers. We do monthly photo shoots at all our schools and pay for our students to participate. Students also enjoy access to our CEO, Bruno Mascolo, via regular Skype calls. 

AACS member? Yes Year joined? 2006

What is one big idea you've adopted from an AACS event or talking to another AACS member? “We’ve found out a lot of schools are going through the same thing we’re going through,” Movchan says. “Attending AACS events lets us know we’re doing things right or need to do things differently. We’re all working towards the same goal and we want our graduates to be open minded to other companies and salons.”

What one major improvement are you planning for your school in 2016? In addition to rolling out DNA, a customized Pivot Point LAB system, students also receive iPads to keep up with the constantly improving online education at TONI&GUY. But next year’s most exciting new development is the three-day program, allowing students to go part time if they prefer.

What schools or educators inspire you? “We are fortunate to be a part of an education program with TIGI Bedhead,” Movchan says. “We also have accessibility to some of the biggest icons in the industry.”

What does your Excellence in Education recognition mean to you? “The Excellence in Education recognition is something we are very honored to receive,” Movchan says. “In our work we strive for excellence, and focus on uplifting the industry as a whole. Fashion is ever-changing, so a hairdresser needs to stay abreast of these trends and continually push their education and creativity to new levels. This recognition validates the hard work that we put into helping mold a better, smarter hairdresser.

“We are celebrating/communicating this honor by showcasing it on our website, marketing materials, and other collateral, in addition to discussing this with each and every prospective student and all current students. This is a huge honor for us to be a part of MODERN SALON and to be named a top honoree of Excellence in Education. We plan to use this as our benchmark as we continually set our standards and goals higher each and every year, with the intention of creating very highly qualified graduates who are sought after by the hairdressing industry.”