Instructors Archives - Phagans School of Hair Design

Meet the Owner of Phagans: Barbara Climaldi

Oozle Media — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 15:33:39 +0000

Phagans School of Hair Design has been around for 75 years. It has a long tradition of excellence. Each and every member of the Phagans team is dedicated to making the learning experience at Phagans fabulous for the students. The captain of the Phagans team is the owner, Barbara Climaldi.

Barbara has dedicated her life to making Phagans the best place for students to become beauty professionals. Here’s a little bit more about her journey and what she does to help students thrive.

Barbara the Beauty School Boss

When it comes to beauty school, Barbara is no rookie. When she went to beauty school herself she learned everything she could. She put forth extra effort. She got her cosmetology license, then stayed at the school to continue learning. She worked in admissions, financial aid, and even became an instructor at the school she graduated from.

During her time working as a beauty school administrator Barbara was able to learn about all the different pieces that go into running a beauty school. Obviously this experience would come in handy when she became a beauty school owner herself. Now students at Phagans can benefit from all of Barbara’s hard work while she attended and worked at a beauty school.

Mentorship

While Barbara was working and learning at the school where she was a student, the owner of that school became Barbara’s mentor. As a mentor she helped Barbara build a career and get to where she is today. Barbara learned about the importance of having a good mentor and how big of a difference that can make.

Now that Barbara is a beauty school owner, she takes the time to talk to students. She wants to be there for them and make herself available to be a mentor herself. The success of her students is at the center of everything that Barbara does.

Student Success

Speaking of helping students succeed, when asked what her favorite part of working in beauty education is Barbara said, “I love to see students succeed. When they come to us they are very hungry for knowledge. When they get licensed and I see them out in the community, that for me is the biggest reward!” Barbara sees her students as people with amazing potential. She wants to help every student reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.

Culture

Helping students succeed is Barbara’s mission. It’s what she loves about her job. To help do this she tries to create a culture where students can flourish. Barbara said she strives to create “a culture of excellence in education. A very ethical culture. A culture that is supportive and fun. A culture that is helpful to our students.”

This is a testament to how much Barbara cares about her students. She wants to build a culture that helps her students become beauty professionals and better people. She wants the students of Phagans to become more than beauty pros, she wants to help them be leaders of the beauty industry.

The Phagans Family

“Phagans is a family business.” Not only do Barbara’s two sons work with her, but every staff member is part of the Phagans family. Barbara said “Finding good staff is always a challenge.” But once the right person is found, they become a Phagans family member.

Students are the other half of the family. When a student enrolls at Phagans they become part of a huge support system of teachers, mentors, and peers. Everyone works together to help each and every student reach their full potential. This family vibe is something that sets Phagans apart and something that Barbara strives to create.

Inspiration

Another thing that makes Barbara a great beauty school owner, mentor, and teacher to the students of Phagans is how she inspires. “You can achieve whatever you set out to do. All you have to do is believe it and work toward it and you’ll achieve it.” Barbara has seen the truth of this in her life and she wants each of her students to learn this life lesson! In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

See It. Believe It.

Want to see what Phagans is like for yourself? Schedule a tour of our school. A career planner will contact you, set up a time to show you around the school, and walk you through a day in the life of a Phagans student. You’ll be able to meet the Phagans family, and if Barbara is in, she’d love to say hi! If you think a career in the beauty industry might be for you, This could be the right first step! We can’t wait to help you begin your journey!

The post Meet the Owner of Phagans: Barbara Climaldi appeared first on Phagans School of Hair Design.

Phagans Employee of the Month: Patty Drexler

Cathy Barsaloux — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 16:30:08 +0000

Patty Drexler is a familiar face at our SE campus. She is a Financial Aid Administrator for Phagans SE, and is very much a part of our students academic life by helping them negotiate the task of funding their education. Patty is a champion for their success, and cares about each and every student past and present. Just a couple quick questions so you can learn a little more about Miss Drexler.

How long have you been at Phagans: I have been with Phagans for just over 16 years; 10 years with Phagans Tigard in October and 7 years with Phagans Clackamas in September.
What is your favorite thing about working at Phagans: I enjoy working with a great team that is dedicated to guide our students in their chosen profession.
What do you think makes a successful student at Phagans: Cosmetology is a combination of academics and hands on practical experience. Students who have the passion of the industry are the ones that will succeed. The Cosmetology industry is a fabulous way of life. There are so many opportunities available all over the world!

Well said Patty.

There are a couple key ingredients that go into running a beauty school. The first is people like Patty who are dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams. Our staff members at Phagans, Patty included, are all working to help students become beauty industry leaders because they love it. Seeing a student achieve great success and start living their dream is a greater reward for Phagans team members than any paycheck. They are an integral part of what makes Phagans School of Hair Design what it is.

The second key ingredient is our students. The hard work, determination, grit, and passion that our students display on a daily basis is inspiring. It’s the fuel that keeps the Phagans fire burning. We love our students and everything we do is centered on helping them reach their personal and professional goals.

Start Building Your Beauty Career

Are you dreaming of becoming a beauty professional? Don’t wait. Contact us today to learn more about our programs. We can help answer any questions you may have about the required education, enrollment process, career possibilities and more. Once you are ready to begin your journey, Patty can help you make a financial plan to complete your beauty education.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

The post Phagans Employee of the Month: Patty Drexler appeared first on Phagans School of Hair Design.

Meet Phagans Instructor Keilee Hoag

Oozle Media — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:08:25 +0000

Welcome to Phagans Keilee, how long have you been with us?

It’s been three and a half months now.

How did you get started in this industry?
It’s always been a passion. I was involved in dance recitals when I was younger and always liked the hair and make-up part of it. This was something that carried with me through High School, and I started in beauty school with Paul Mitchell at 17, while I was still in school.

Tell me about going to beauty school.
It was a lot of fun. I went to a platform artist school, which was a really cool experience. I liked the upbeat environment and the teachers were amazing. I found out that I really liked to cut hair. I was really nervous to start though.

What happened after you graduated?
I started work at a barber shop which lasted about 6 months, but decided I wanted more and so I switched to a salon in Bend. I enjoyed making my own schedule and having free reign over my career. I was there around 6 months before moving to Portland to start teaching at Paul Mitchell.

Tell me what you like about teaching?
My favorite part is the light bulb moment. You see a student struggle and then suddenly you see them get it. I find that really satisfying. I also like seeing the journey from freshman to graduate – it’s pretty amazing!

How are you settling in at Phagans?
I feel at home. This is more like a family and I feel very supported.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?
I definitely want to be working at Phagans, and possibly own my own salon.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about going to Beauty School?
You need to be all in!

Thanks Keilee for you time. We are so happy to have you here with us.

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Q&A with Jerry Kallioinen, Phagans’ Director of Education

Oozle Media — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 06:30:32 +0000

Q: What beauty school did you go to?
A: Montavilla College of Hair Design in Portland, Oregon.

Q: How did you get involved in the beauty industry?
A: I got my Art Degree from college and was inspired to become a high school art teacher, but the market was flooded. My roommate was in beauty school at the time and he encouraged me to go because he thought that I would like it … and I did!

Q: What was school like?
A: It was kind of a culture shock and became very social, but I realized that I had a knack for hair design.

Q: How long have you been teaching?
A: Long enough to know how to do finger waves in my sleep.

Q: What inspires you?
A: The students and the process of learning.

Q: What do you like about your job?
A: The high degree of variety and I enjoy visiting other beauty schools around the country as an Academic Evaluator with NACCAS.

Q: What advice would you give to prospective students?
A: Be willing to make a lifestyle change and don’t get discouraged by the challenges.

The post Q&A with Jerry Kallioinen, Phagans’ Director of Education appeared first on Phagans School of Hair Design.

Interview with Nancy Ripp, Director of Education, Phagans Clackamas Campus

Oozle Media — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:30:11 +0000

“Plan for the unexpected…it will happen!”

How did you get involved with the beauty industry?

In 1974, right after graduating high school, I took a summer job at Phagans in Salem. I was not a good fit for the job. In fact, it was my worst job ever! I quit, but my manager at the school told me to come back the following week in a white uniform because I was going to be a student. I spent the whole weekend looking for something else to get involved in. I didn’t want to go back – beauty school was not my dream!

But now, nearly 40 years later, I can look back on a long career in the beauty industry. And that manager who told me to come back as a student is now my mentor and friend, Karen Diekman.

What was school like?

It was very difficult. I learned a lot about myself…good and bad! I learned that I liked doing hair, and the instructors meant business. I had a good education. It was physically and emotionally taxing – it wasn’t easy. I had to grow up because this was the real world!

How long have you been teaching?

I’ve been teaching since 1980. I’m always inspired by how creative the students are and how their lives change going through school.

What do you like most about your job?

Each day brings new challenges. Not only am I concerned with the day-to-day running of the school, but I also work with the instructors to make sure we are providing the best education for our students. It’s about having a good team and having fun too. It’s important to find time during the day to enjoy each other.

What advice would you give prospective students?

Plan for the unexpected…it will happen! In a short time, you will become someone totally different. Our industry is so powerful.

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