Three Trinity County high school students recently traded their regular school day for clippers, color bowls, and a glimpse of their possible future. The outing was made possible by the WorkAbility I program, run through the Trinity County Office of Education and led by program coordinator Stephanie Rebelo, in collaboration with Joy Thompson and the Trinity Together: Cradle to Career Partnership. Together, these partners arranged a full-day career exploration field trip to the Shasta School of Cosmetology in Redding.

For many teens, choosing a career path can feel distant and abstract. WorkAbility I changes that by connecting students with real workplaces and real professionals. This field trip was a perfect example: a complete behind-the-scenes tour of one of Northern California’s top cosmetology programs, personally guided by the school’s lead instructor, Mr. Deazmond Paul Lerner.

From the moment the group walked through the doors, the energy was electric. Styling stations lined the walls, mannequins waited patiently for the next practice cut, and the hum of blow-dryers filled the air. Mr. Lerner, with his signature long hair, red smock, and welcoming smile, greeted the students like future colleagues. He didn’t just talk about cosmetology; he showed it.

The tour covered every corner of the facility:

• Professional salon chairs and mirrored workstations  
• Shelves stocked with professional-grade products and tools  
• Dedicated classrooms for theory and hands-on practice  
• A student clinic where learners serve real clients under supervision  

What made the visit even more relatable? The Trinity County students spotted familiar faces – former classmates from their own high school who are already enrolled and thriving in the program. Seeing peers they know succeeding in dual-enrollment courses turned “someday” into “this could be me right now.”

Mr. Lerner walked the group through the tools of the trade: shears, clippers, hot irons, color brushes, and the latest techniques in balayage, barbering, and esthetics. He explained how the school’s curriculum prepares students not just to pass the California State Board exam, but to walk straight into a salon chair and start earning the day they graduate.

For the WorkAbility I students, the trip was more than a tour; it was inspiration in action. 

“This is exactly why we do these experiences,” said Stephanie Rebelo, WorkAbility I coordinator with the Trinity County Office of Education. “When students can touch the tools, talk to the instructors, and see peers from their own community succeeding, the future stops feeling out of reach.”

Thanks to dedicated educators, the strong collaboration between Stephanie Rebelo’s WorkAbility I team and Joy Thompson of Trinity Together: Cradle to Career Partnership, and welcoming professionals like Mr. Lerner, Trinity County students aren’t just dreaming about their futures; they’re stepping right into them, one field trip at a time.

(Photos: Mr. Deazmond Lerner explains professional tools to WorkAbility I students while touring the Shasta School of Cosmetology in Redding.)