We head into a classroom at JATC South in Riverton where students are learning how to be barbers and hairstylists. Superintendent Godfrey sits down for his own hair cut and styled. Is it the popular Pompadour or does the Superintendent walk away with a Reverse Fade?
Then, CTE Director Jason Skidmore is in studio to talk about all the opportunities for students at JATC South and what parents need to know about the programs.
Audio Transcription
Superintendent Godfrey:
Welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. This is a Jordan School District podcast designed to educate, inform, and hopefully entertain you. If it's anything that's important to parents, students, teachers, or anything related to education, it's something we hope to feature on the Supercast. Today, I'm going for a haircut. Probably nothing special about that, unless you know I'm going to the JATC South, which is the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers. They have some amazing programs there. And one of them is a Barbering and Hair Design program so it gets kids a head start on a career in cutting hair. They mostly work on mannequin heads, but today the hair that needed a little help was mine. So I headed down there and Senior Jose helped me. And he was just the man for the job.
Hi, I'm Dr. Godfrey. Your Jose.
Jose:
Yeah.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Alright. I guess I could have read that on your shirt. How swag. So you're going to give me a haircut today. So you're finishing your hour so you can get a license to be a barber. Is barber the right term?
Jose:
Yeah.
Jose:
Okay. Barber, do you want to hear my eighth grade geometry teacher's haircut joke thatI still remember from eighth grade?
Jose:
Okay.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Ask me if I want a haircut.
Jose:
Do you want a haircut?
Superintendent Godfrey:
No, I'd like them all cut.
Jose:
Okay.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Yeah. It's not that it's not that funny. So, I do really need just a trim. I don't want it too short.
Instructor:
I'm Dacia Peterson. I'm the Hair Design and Barbering Instructor. We are overcome just a little bit for your team around the side. We were just talking about his plan of how he's trimming. He will taper a little bit, clipper over comb and then use his shears to finish the haircut.
Superintendent Godfrey:
What are some of the crazier names for haircuts that you teach? What's the most exotic sounding or exciting sounding.
Instructor:
The Pompadour has been really popular recently.
Superintendent Godfrey:
What else?
Instructor:
Some of the High Fades or a Ball Fade or a Skin Fade.
Superintendent Godfrey:
The Fade is popular. And I feel like my hair is fading on its own and that's not very popular with me. So when you say Fade, I hear something different.
Yeah. That is true.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Will you cut hair while you're going to school?
Jose:
Yeah. After this summer, in the fall, I'm going to go to SLCC for two years. And then go to the U to get my bachelor's degree.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Right.
Jose:
Because one day I just want to have my own barbershop.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Right.
Jose:
I have my own business pretty much.
Superintendent Godfrey:
So do you want to get a degree in business so that you can run your own barbershop?
Jose:
Yes, that's great. Now I'm going to do the taper in the back of your head with clipper over comb.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Thanks Jose. Great job. That may be the best haircut I've ever had.
Jose:
I enjoyed doing it.
Instructor:
So that's a great way to get started into a career, to work your way through high school or work your way through college. Make a living. It's a license. They do have a license to go out and cut hair and color and work in a salon when they're done with their Hair Design program.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Savannah, I'm Anthony Godfrey.
Savannah:
Nice to meet you. So tell me about who we have here. Is this mannequin named?
Savannah:
No. I was trying to think of like a fancy French name for him because I name them based off their hairstyles, but I haven't thought of one for this one yet.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Oh, okay. So you name them, what is the hairstyle that you're giving her?
Savannah:
Right now I'm giving this guy a square layered haircut. So everything is just directed straight back.
Superintendent Godfrey:
And what is the name of that? Just square layer?
Savannah:
Yep. Squared. Yeah.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Sure. It's just, a squared haircut. Okay. And his name is?
Savannah:
I'm just going to go for something like Fabio.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Fabio. Yeah. I was thinking John Pierre.
Savannah:
I like that one better. We'll do that one.
Superintendent Godfrey:
With a hyphen.
Savannah:
Yes.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Okay. And is Jean-Pierre his beard gathered at the bottom because you have big plans for that or just to get it out of there?
Savannah::
And we'll get it out of the way later. We're going to do some fun stuff with this. Oh, we have a whole board of different, weird beards you can do. The beard wall is over there that we have.
Superintendent Godfrey:
You have a beard wall? The octopus right there, the Octopus?
Savannah:
Yes. And then there's the Long Boat.
Superintendent Godfrey:
The Long Boat, I don't know that I've ever seen the Long Boat.
Savannah:
Yeah. Some of these, I don't think I've ever seen anyone wear. There's Jack's Barrel right there too. The Hole Chain Man. That's a City. I think there was a person and a city.
Superintendent Godfrey:
I think you're right. I'm not quite sure. That's a very cosmopolitan design. Stubble.
Savannah:
That's shorter. It's another one of the popular ones that I would see a lot more people.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Would I look more like Brad Pitt if I had a Designer Stubble?
Savannah:
Probably.
Superintendent Godfrey:
All right. I'm back in studio with my hair looking fantastic. And I'm here now with the Director of CTE. That's Jason Skidmore. And I've asked Jason just to give us a little bit of an overview of the programs. Tell us a little bit about yourself first, Jason.
Jason:
Hey Superintendent. Thanks for having me in today. And can I just say your hair really does look amazing. They did a great job. So glad you were able to stop by there.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Thank you. That's not a compliment I get very often, and yours, Jason, if I may say, it looks incredible.
Jason:
I did stop down there the other day and they were needing to do something with a razor. And so my head was perfect for that. And I'm happy to say I left without any scars. We all have our role to play. So that's awesome.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Well, I was really impressed with the program. Your teacher is awesome. The kids obviously are really engaged in that. But that's just one of the programs that's available there. Right?
Jason:
Right. The Jordan Academy, the South campus that you were at, was designed to house many of the programs that we couldn't fit inside our traditional high schools, as you're aware. The Barbering program is one of the gems of that center. Many of the school districts across the state have kind of gone away from traditional education in career fields like cosmetology, barbering, nail technicians, even diesel mechanics or welding. There's a great need for those, but the training has been difficult to find qualified instructors to do that. And so we're fortunate to have some great instructors that help get our kids through that program.
Superintendent Godfrey:
It's a nice facility too, at the JATC South. What are some of the other programs that are available?
Jason:
So at the South campus, we have by our Science, Introduction to Firefighting is basically that program. We work with Unified Fire Authority and they train all of our students, introduce them to the field of a fire. We've got EMT. They also do that same. And students can walk out with a combination of fire science training, as well as an EMT, which qualifies them to work for any of the fire authorities or ambulance crews here across the state.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Both of those programs have a fairly military approach to the way they run things. There's a lot demanded of students. And I think that's what draws kids to the program. They know they're going to get a lot out of it.
Jason:
It does, you know, it's rigorous, not just mentally, but physically they gotta put a lot of time and effort and training into that.
Superintendent Godfrey:
So you've had it right on a very military-like structure to that program, right?
Jason:
Same with the Criminal Justice Program. Students can get an introduction to law enforcement. They work closely with the prison and other security facilities across the, the region. We also have a Web Design, we have a Game Design program that's housed at that campus. I mentioned the Nail Technician. There's diesel, and the welding technology. And so students can get a hands on and they get certification before they walk out the door so they can walk into any kind of welding facility. We also have available to students a Teacher Education Program.
Superintendent Godfrey:
So, students that are interested in going into education as their career, as you know, we have a shortage of teachers and it's something that Jordan District has taken on and doing, has had that program for many years. So well, it's a great place, great programs, great people providing that opportunity for students who can really come out, ready to work, whether they choose to do that profession longterm or whether it gets them through the next phase of their schooling and training. It's a really great step up to the next next level.
When we come back from our break, we're going to learn a little bit more about some of those individual programs and how you, as members of the public, can interact with those programs. But first, we'll take a little break. Join us again in just a moment.
Sandra Reisgraf:
In Jordan School District, the possibilities are endless for anyone looking to grow with a team of professionals, working together to provide the very best for students in education. If you're looking for a great job with great pay and benefits in a supportive environment, head to work@jordan.org and find your future career in Jordan School District. People come for the job and stay for the adventure. Explore the many options apply today.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Alright, and we're back. Jason Skidmore, the CTE Director for Jordan District is going to tell us a little bit more about some of the programs at JATC South. Tell us a little bit about the Nail Tech program.
Jason:
Our students who started that program, learned not only the basics of nail care, they understand color, they understand the chemicals that are used. And so they have to run a very safe environment in order for the clients come in and out of that center, as they prepare for their future. So it's all part of that. There are various competitions that students can attend and we've been fortunate. We've got a fabulous instructor and she's prepared for as all of our students. And over the last few years, we've had two or three students who continue to climb to the top across the state and actually competed at the national convention competition this last summer. We're always excited when students can not only show off their skills in the classroom, but when they can take them outside. That's one of the values of any CT program. It's not just in the classroom, it's what they can do in the community. It's what they can do in the career field. It's also what they can take into their personal life and develop their own interest in their own entrepreneurial spirit to create their own business.
Superintendent Godfrey:
So, if there's a parent out there who thinks, "Hey, I would love my son or daughter to be involved, or I know my son and daughter would be interested, what's the best way for them to approach that. Are there open houses? How can they find out more about the programs?
Jason:
There's an open house we hold every year, but probably the best thing to do would be to contact the school. You can go to jordantech.org and that'll give you the basic information and the contact numbers for individuals. You can call the center directly.
(801) 412-1300 That will get them in touch with the front office. And that will start them on their path. We have a counselor full-time there that they can talk to. What's gonna be best for the students and what's right for them, and they can create a plan that'll work for that student.
Superintendent Godfrey:
I would say to anyone out there listening, who has the slightest interest in programs of this type, I would suggest that you reach out and find out more about it because these programs are amazing. I've taken my son to try to get him involved. He's now graduated, but I try to get him hooked into one of those programs just because I love them so much. I think that there's so much to offer kids. And like I said, it doesn't have to be a longterm thing.
Now, there are some services that are available to members of the public who want to come in, have nails done and have their hair done. The EMT services are not available on a walk in basis or the fire services or welding. You can't come in. And I guess you could probably bring a job in at some point they'd say, Hey, I need some welding done.
Jason:
Yeah. On occasion, we do have members of the public that come in there. The one that we didn't mention that would also provide a service is the Greenhouse.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Okay. Oh yeah. That's right. Tell us about the greenhouse. I am the angel of death when it comes to plants.
Jason:
This is the place you need to be and spend some time. So, we do have a 10,000 square foot greenhouse there. And right now they're in the beginnings of preparing for the upcoming season. So next spring, you know, we do sell not only houseplants and annual seedlings or perennials, but we also sell garden vegetables. The community can come in and purchase as they prepare for their garden. And if you'd like some help, we can probably set you up with somebody to help you, Superintendent, to make sure that your thumbs can be a bit more green.
Superintendent Godfrey:
I should get a consult in the spring. I think my family would really appreciate that. So if someone wants to get an inexpensive haircut, have their nails done at a very affordable and reasonable price get some great plants at the greenhouse, they just visit that same website.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Visit the same website, jordantech.org, and that will get them to the right people. And they'll get information on what hours are available for what services and what time of the year.
Jason:
You can support students and get a great product for a low price.
And I would say one last thing. If you've got a student that you think likes to work with their hands, it just may be that's where you kind of see their inclination, check out any of these programs. It may or may not be for them, but if you don't look at it, you'll never know.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Great, great thought. All right. We're going to take a quick break and then we'll come back for our version of Two Truths and a Lie with Jason Skidmore, CTE Director. Thanks for being with us.
Steve Hall:
Hello. My name is Steven Hall. I'm Director of the Jordan Education Foundation. Have you ever experienced what it's like to surprise a teacher in the classroom with school supplies, books, or a classroom grant? Have you seen students all smiles because you care enough to give them a backpack, a winter coat, weekend food packs, or a free holiday shopping spree. It's something we see all the time, because it is exactly what Jordan Education Foundation does. The Foundation exists due to the generosity of people who care about kids. If you would like to be a part of supporting students and teachers in the classroom, contact Jordan EducationFoundation, and start making a difference today, you can find us at jordaneducationfoundation.org.
Superintendent Godfrey:
And we're back with Jordan School District CTE Director, Jason Skidmore. And we've been closing out the podcast with Two Truths and a Lie with the Superintendent. It's your chance to lie to the Superintendent. You know how the game goes. You tell me two truths and one lie, and I have to figure out which is which. Do you need some time or are you ready?
Jason:
I'm always ready to lie to the Superintendent.
Superintendent Godfrey:
You know, that's what everybody says. That's why we call him Stone Cold Skidmore, because he is just all right.
Jason:
I'm as ready as I'm going to be going up against you.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Let's hear it. Alrighty. You ready?
Jason:
I'm ready.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Okay. Hit me. All right. That's a lie. No, I'm just kidding. Okay.
Jason:
So, I spent a week at the Marine course training base and camp men, Camp Pendleton, where I survived the first week
Superintendent Godfrey:
You survived the first, the first week. Okay.
Jason:
I laid in the back of a refueling tanker during a refueling mission.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Okay. Laid in the bed.
Jason:
Well, you have to lay down to control the hose. That's how they refuel those. You don't just stand up and refill it. You gotta know that it's fair enough.
Jason:
And I've was a passenger in the back of an F-16 Atlanta at Hill Air Force Base.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Wow. This is our Veterans Day edition of the Supercast. Let me think here, Mr. Skidmore, or should I say Corporal Skidmore? I'm going to say that you have never landed at Hill AirForce Base.
Jason:
You are correct.
Superintendent Godfrey:
You did a week in the rain train camp.
Jason:
Yes, I did.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Well, you only need a week, so I can say, how did that go as an educator?
Jason:
Okay. So you were kind of recruiting screening where they wanted us to see what it looked like to be a Marine recruit for one week.
Superintendent Godfrey:
I'm in that experience. I am envious of that experience. I think that's really cool.
Jason:
I have a great passion for anybody who goes and serves in the Marines. That'sa tough, tough, tough training.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Do you have to climb the high walls with the rope and all that?
Jason:
The whole introduction into the yellow footprints. If you know that drill, that's the footprints, the day they arrive and they basically strip everything off backpack. I'm not closed, but they basically take them out, cut their hair, put them on the yellow footprints. And that's when the yelling begins. And that does not stop first weeks. I mean, it's a mental break. It's a place where they mentally try to break you down and then they bring you back. Then you arrive at 4:00 AM in the morning. You're tired and you just, it's chaos.
Superintendent Godfrey:
That's fantastic. That's great. All I know is the montages and various movies I've watched where the new grunt is climbing up and falls face first in the mud and someone steps on them and they just shake their head because they'll never make it. And then they rise above and triumph eventually. Yes. And well, well done, sir. You've had a wide breadth of experience but I guess you're not as good a liar as you thought you were.
Jason:
Wow. I've lost my name Stone cold.
Superintendent Godfrey:
Thank you very much to Director Jason Skidmore. Go to jordantech.org for more information. Thanks for joining us on the Supercast. And remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see out there.