As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken. Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.
3 Apr 2001
He came to the school as a Career Day guest to talk about his experience as a barber and the joys of cutting hair. Darnell Majors has returned each Wednesday, barber shop chair in tow, because he saw a need and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the boys he grooms.
J. W. Ray Learning Center's in-house barber tells the students, "When you look good, you feel good. Your appearance is the first thing people notice about you."
At age 26, the South Oak Cliff High School graduate, has been cutting hair for five years. And, as good barbers do, with every nip and buzz of the razor he shares a bit of wisdom. "I tell the boys about the importance of having vision and staying focused."
The free hair cuts are Darnell's way of helping the students. It is also his way of keeping in touch with a tradition from his youth. "As a kid, I got my cuts at the barber shop school. To look good, that was important to me, and I know these kids' image benefit when they look sharp. That's why I keep coming back."
Darnell will be at the school, Wednesday, April 4, from 9 a.m. until noon. The school is located at 2211 Caddo St.