The Shop in 310: More than a haircut

After the final bell, the transformation is quick. Books are packed. Desks shift. Mirrors rise. And, most importantly, clippers buzz.

Four days a week, a classroom on the third floor of Milwaukee's Rufus King International High School becomes a barbershop where Marquette alumnus Emmanuel Johnson, Ed '22, and fellow English teacher Cameron LeFlore give students more than a fresh cut. In the chair, confidence grows, relationships deepen and school feels different.

"You can always tell on a kid's face," Johnson says. "We take it upon ourselves that we make sure they look exactly how they want to look when they leave. We invite them to get cuts not just because it looks good, but because then they transition to the classroom and they feel good. They participate more. They speak up more, speak up for themselves. Now, they approach academics with a more positive mindset."

Johnson and LeFlore's combined talents gave rise to The Shop in 310, named for the classroom where it all comes together each afternoon. There, the self-taught barbers offer free haircuts to students, cultivating a steady group of 10 to 15 regulars. And word is getting out.

We invite them to get cuts not just because it looks good, but because then they transition to the classroom and they feel good.

"I had a kid today, I'm heading to the bathroom and he's like, 'Hey, when are you all cutting hair?'" LeFlore says with a laugh. "Caught me off guard."

For many, hair is more than just style. It's identity, self-expression. It frames how they navigate the world. But for some families, regular barbershop visits simply aren't affordable, turning something closely tied to confidence and self-expression into a luxury.

"They tell us all the time, 'I wouldn't know where else to go. Getting a haircut is so expensive,'" Johnson says. "That accessibility for them is huge."

Beyond the financial impact, the shop changes the dynamic between teachers and students. The setting creates space for trust and mentorship in a way a traditional classroom often can't.

"I have kids now, they would ask questions in class a little bit, but now that barrier has been taken down," says LeFlore, who previously walked these same halls as a Rufus King student. "They're giving first bumps, they're asking when they can come in next for a cut. I can definitely see the barrier or the hesitancy to ask for help in general go way, way down in my students. Even students I don't have, they speak up in the hallway. It creates more of a community, slowly but surely."

The same skills that make them strong educators serve them just as well behind the barber chair. Countless hours developing curricula prepared them to walk into every cut with a clear plan and steady confidence. A mindset of continuous improvement keeps them refining their technique, learning new styles and listening closely to feedback from the students. Jouta Cross, a professional barber with decades of experience, visits each Monday to mentor the pair, offer tips from his years in the industry, and ensure every student leaves feeling seen and cared for.

For Johnson and LeFlore, this is just the first step. The Shop in 310 only serves Rufus King students, but they hope their efforts provide a template for other Milwaukee Public Schools. They've also taken some aspiring barbers under their wing, inviting students to watch them and Cross to pass down skills to the next generation and make a greater impact on the community.

"This is definitely being the difference," Johnson says. "That's all we want to do at the end of the day with this club. It's fun cutting hair, but at the same time, it means a lot to be a difference maker in the lives of young kids - to give them an outlet, not just a haircut."