Principal pays for promise with hair

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By David Heitz | Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:16 AM CDT | () comments

Larry Fisher/Bettendorf News Students at Jefferson Elementary School react as their principal Bonnie Fisher gets a very short haircut on the last day of school.

Bonnie Fisher: Before

Bonnie Fisher: After

Jefferson Elementary School Principal Bonnie Fisher has a new look, thanks to the fundraising efforts of her students.

Fisher sat in front of the student body and got a spiky haircut Friday from the lunchroom supervisor to reward the student body for selling $6,800 in raffle tickets. In total, Jefferson’s Jubilee festival May 4 raised $12,000 for the Parent-Teacher Organization, $3,500 more than last year and a gigantic amount for a school with only 140 students. The money will be used for classroom wish lists and things like new playground equipment.

“This is my $12,000 haircut,” Fisher said after she received the trim from Patti Creen. “John Edwards can’t touch that.”

Humor is a top priority at Jefferson, Fisher said. When visitors walk through the front doors, a sign says “When Jefferson students use the life skill of humor, they laugh and play without hurting others.”

Fisher chose Creen to cut her hair because she is a cosmetologist and also someone that the children know as an authority. Fisher said the new wash-and-go “do” should take a half hour off her morning routine.

“OK, Miss Powder,” joked Betsy Justis, a parent and School Board member, referring to the stubble-headed workout guru Susan Powder. Justis and Fisher both volunteered at the jubilee, sitting in the hot seat of the dunk tank, much to the delight of students.

As Fisher headed for the gym for her trim, she uttered, “I kind of feel like Marie Antoinette.” Before the shaving, Amy Swearingen, a parent and member of the Jubilee Committee, presented Fisher with three baseball caps that she can use on bad hair days. “I’m sure I’ll wear these all summer long,” Fisher said.

With her back to the students, Fisher calmly sat in the barber’s chair as Creen clicked on the buzzing clippers and went to work. The students squealed as Creen threw Fisher’s locks into the air.

“She looks like a rock star, and it feels really good,” said Taylor Amey, a fifth-grader. “Or, she kind of looks like the mom in (the book and movie) ‘Freaky Friday.’ ”

“I just think the whole thing is weird,” added fifth-grader Miranda Cooper. “She looks like a boy.”

Creen said she was a little nervous giving Fisher a trim. “I have to see her every day,” she joked. “We colored her hair before we cut it. (The children) thought we were going to shave it down to nothing, but I didn’t want to do that to her.”

David Heitz can be contacted at (563) 383-2202 or dheitz@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at www.qctimes.com.