Teachers at Milwaukee High School Offer Free Haircuts to Students

Educators at Rufus King High School provide confidence-boosting cuts after class

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Two English teachers at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, Emmanuel Johnson and Cameron Leflore, have started an after-school club called 'The Shop N 310' where they offer free haircuts to any student who wants one. Over the past two years, they have given hundreds of haircuts, helping boost student confidence and academic performance.

Why it matters

The teachers' initiative provides an important service to students, many of whom may not have access to affordable haircuts. By offering this resource, the teachers are helping build students' self-esteem and creating a positive school environment. The program also demonstrates the educators' commitment to supporting their students' holistic well-being beyond just academics.

The details

Johnson and Leflore, who have been cutting hair for years, decided to bring their passion project to school a couple years ago. They started by offering free cuts to any interested students, and word quickly spread. The program became so popular that they formalized it into an after-school club at the start of the 2025/2026 school year, with a third licensed barber teacher, Jouta Cross, joining the team. The Shop N 310 club is open 2-3 days per week and is available to all Rufus King students, faculty, and staff, though not the general public.

  • The program started a couple years ago when the teachers first started offering free haircuts to students.
  • The Shop N 310 club was officially launched at the start of the 2025/2026 school year.

The players

Emmanuel Johnson

An English teacher at Rufus King High School who co-founded the free haircut program with his colleague Cameron Leflore.

Cameron Leflore

An English teacher at Rufus King High School who co-founded the free haircut program with his colleague Emmanuel Johnson.

Jouta Cross

A para-professional at Rufus King High School who has been a licensed barber for over 30 years and joined the free haircut program team.

Lomar Castro

A junior student at Rufus King High School who has been a regular at the free haircut program.

Demontrey Cochran

A student at Rufus King High School who gets his hair cut at the free haircut program every two weeks.

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What they’re saying

“Give a student a new attitude and a new way to look at themselves and a new way to feel about themselves.”

— Emmanuel Johnson, English Teacher (tmj4.com)

“It feels how I feel when I teach and deliver a lesson, and I can peep that moment in the kids face when they realize something, or the lesson connects or something, or the lesson connects, or something just makes sense, and it clicks.”

— Emmanuel Johnson, English Teacher (tmj4.com)

“So in school, if a kid doesn't feel confident, their academics aren't going to be that good, usually. If they feel more confident in the way that they look, they feel better about themselves. Now, they come to class. They're not hiding. They're not shy. They're not causing issues.”

— Cameron Leflore, English Teacher (tmj4.com)

“It's free, it saves a lot of money, and a good teacher and a good teacher is holding this club up.”

— Demontrey Cochran, Student (tmj4.com)

“Get to talk to the kids about things other than haircuts and find out where they at in life, how they think, lead them in the right direction to speak.”

— Jouta Cross, Para-Professional (tmj4.com)

What’s next

The Shop N 310 club plans to continue offering free haircuts to Rufus King students, faculty, and staff on a regular basis throughout the school year.

The takeaway

The teachers' initiative to provide free haircuts demonstrates their commitment to supporting their students' overall well-being and confidence, which can have a positive impact on their academic performance and school experience. This program is a unique example of educators going above and beyond to create a more inclusive and empowering environment for their students.