Fayette County Public Schools opens second barber shop to help students build confidence and mentoring relationships

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — A new barbershop inside Winburn Middle School is giving students more than just a fresh haircut — it’s offering a place to build confidence, find mentorship, and connect with trusted adults in a comfortable setting.

Fayette County Public Schools officially opened its second in-school barbershop on Monday at Winburn. The district’s first barbershop launched at Tates Creek Middle School.

Principal Eric Thornsberry said the shop will operate once a week and is designed to give students a space where conversations and relationship-building can come naturally, outside the structure of a traditional classroom.

The in-school barbershops are part of a partnership with Sharp Futures, a mentorship organization founded six years ago that now operates four barbershops and beauty salons in schools across Lexington and Louisville.

Founder and Executive Director C.J. Carter said the mission goes far deeper than basic grooming.

“These young men … need that consistent mentor in their lives,” Carter said in the release. “A lot of them don’t have that, so when they’re able to see somebody who looks like them and can pour into them, that really goes a long way.”

Carter said most school barbershops see 20 to 30 students participate.

Barber Vincent Davis has been cutting hair since graduating high school and said he wishes programs like this existed when he was growing up. He believes the hands-on environment gives students an outlet that traditional curriculum can’t always provide — and may even spark interest in a future career.

Students can sign up through the school if they want to participate. For students like Vincenzzo, the program is already making an impact.

“I think it’s a good experience for kids,” he said. “It’s good for kids to learn how to cut hair and stuff.”

FCPS plans to open its next school barbershop at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy on December 15.