2004

Brackeen Named ECCC Vo-Tech Instructor of the Year

with four year degrees," Brackeen said. According to Brackeen, cosmetology is also a job about helping people. "lfyou like to help people, you can till many roles in this professiOn," she said . "Not only can you make people look better, you can make them feel better about themselves." Brackeen said she is also known for "telling it like it is" when it comes to her students work. "I want them to know their strong and weak points," she said. "I don't lie to them about their work or their ability. And I want them to know that personalitycounts very much in this profession . Statistics show that only 10 percent of people go to a hairdresser for his or her ability. The other 90 percent go because of their people skills. No matter how good yop are, you won't make it in this profession without a good personality. "I stress .... e put personal feelings or dts– comfort a·side because the most important person in the world at that time is the ladyor gentleman sitting in your chair. If they can do that they'll make a lot of

at on\! time.

1110\ mg ana acing "l'lnetn ng l.lltTer~nt and I hke that ··t to'e the fac t that -.1 udent-. come back aft er the~ ' \ e bl~n" ort.– mg a fe\\ \\eel\., and the... sy ··Mr., racketn ' •u \\ere nght and I apprec.1at~ you makmg me 'ta~ bu-;)' and leep thmg, neat and clean ·· Becau'e 1 try to tell them that 1he hab1ts ·he)' form at ~;chool \Ioiii go\~ th them into the \\Orkplace.

Leslie. my youngest daugh– ter, started Kindergarten, I returned to get my instructor's license, which I received in 1984," she said. Brackeen taught four years at Hat~field's in Lau– rel and one year at Final Touch in \1eridian before stx years ago. -r ha" e al– ways wanted to work at East Central ," she said. Brackeen said continuing her work as a cosmetolo– gist, in addition to being an instructor, is just one ofthe ways she reaches her stu– dents. " I plan to continue working as a cosmetologist as long as I teach, because I want to be able to tell stu– der.·s the way things really are," Brackeen said. ··Not only will I be able to give them State Board expecta– tions, I can give them real world expec tations." Brackeen said one of the first things she tells her stu– dents is '·there is a lot of money to be made, but be– ing a cosmetologist is hard work!" "I tell them if they

nity College cosmetolog) ins truct o r Wanda Brackeen, the 2004 Voca- tiona!-Technical Instructor o f the Year. cosmetology wasn't supposed to be a I ife-1 ong career. "I was working in a tinance com- ne" cr mtenl"·•:n·o;: tf.lt

money!" Teaching cosme- iHAGIN IAN - - --- --– tology is "fun every day" , for Brackeen. ·'As long as ,QBA DEMOCRAT----- I'm teaching, I forget that TON RECORD I'm 54 years old!'' she said. --- ----- "You're around younger iDIAN STAR---- - - - – ~eople all the .time and not {ION-LEDGER JUSt the young, but the young --- - ----

at heart. Most hairdressers just like to have a good time. Most people that go into this field "See "BRACKEEN" page 7