 
SoNo Academy, a cosmetology vocational school in South Norwalk, has been holding its collective breath while the lack of student financial aid has critically stunted growth.
The school was founded by husband and wife Thea and George Tsiranides almost two years ago.
“I”™ve always been in the business end of things,” said George. “My wife had the idea of opening a school from a stylist”™s point of view. In salons it”™s not hard to find help, but it”™s hard to find people who have been trained properly. A lot of schools seemed to be pushing people through and teaching them just enough to take the test.”
George said in addition to teaching students to pass the certification test, the academy provides hands-on situational training in its 13-month program.
“Just because you have a drivers license doesn”™t mean you know how to drive,” said George. “When Thea opened this, she wanted to teach individuals interested in the industry properly, this was generated from her passion.”
George”™s history can be traced to design and marketing done with Nine West, the apparel company. Thea, who has worked as a high-end hairstylist in Stamford, recently opened Salon 126 in New Canaan with her brother, Ralph Roina.
“I”™ve been in business for 18 years and I consider myself a true professional and I love this industry like no other,” said Thea. “There wasn”™t a true training facility that got individuals going into the industry prepared and excited.”
In addition to being a school, SoNo Academy also has a functioning salon that allows its students to have workplace training. The school also has associations with Rusk Inc., a Stamford-based manufacturer of hair care products and devices, which is instrumental in the school and allows students to see another side of the industry.
“We”™ve got this great school right here in our backyard, it”™s mutually beneficial,” said Brooke Carlson, vice president and general manager of Rusk Inc. “We can help take their students to another level. SoNo is probably the most progressive and the most modern of the schools that I”™m in contact with across the country. The level of student is exceptional.”
Thea said in the first year in business the school was growing exponentially with little reason to think that the interest garnered would slip.
“Everything was going well,” said Thea. “We were doing what we were supposed to be doing.”
Though the interest continued to rise, the financial markets did slip and Sallie Mae, the country”™s largest college student loan company, stopped offering loans.
“We had a great relationship with them in the beginning and it was such an easy process,” said Thea. “Then it started to get a little more difficult and then we got a letter. Not everyone who is starting a new career has $15,000 waiting in a bank account somewhere.”
Having not been open a full two years yet, SoNo Academy does not yet qualify for Title IV and when it does qualify it will have to pay some $20,000 for accreditation.
According to Thea, the school has been forced to watch its ascending success and finances decline, while prospective students wait for financial-aid to return.
“It”™s beyond the point of being a serious threat,” said Thea. “We”™ve never gone a class without having enrollment. Now we”™re going on four months without new enrollment and it”™s not a lack of interest.”
Thea said she has a list of 30 students who want to start their training, but cannot find money.
“Everything we need is there, but we can”™t get to it because these kids can”™t get the money,” said Thea. “Our marketing is there, our location is amazing, and our staff is amazing. I just can”™t actually get the kids in here and that”™s the issue that”™s either going to make it or break it. We”™ll have to get full classes two or three times before we can get back to where we were.”
The Tsiranides said one of the most frustrating parts of the situation is that in this lame job market they could be ensuring bankable employment, but are being stifled.
George said that they have been watching for legislation changes in Hartford, though they have yet to see any positive movement for the financial-aid issue.
George said that though enrollment has faced problems, area salons are beginning to follow the school and understand the concept of the types of professionals being developed there.
“Here we are providing a perfect platform and situation where students can graduate and have a job all in the average of a year,” said Thea. “Our students don”™t even have to wait until after graduation to work. Everyone that has graduated from SoNo so far has been placed and not only placed they”™ve been put into the best of the best.”
According to Thea, there is no practical exam given in Connecticut for salon students only a written exam.
“There”™s no obligation to give them any skills,” said Thea. “Anyone with half a brain could read the book and pass the test, and then the salons have to start from scratch. We take out three-quarters of that work.”
George and Thea said they are currently developing a continuing education program for the school as well as part-time class hours to allow for a larger demographic to enroll.
“We”™re so proud of what we”™ve done and what we”™re doing and the potential for it to grow,” said Thea. “In our short history, we’ve proven we can help create careers for people and we have put a very attractive storefront in the heart of South Norwalk when it was really needed. If a good business like this that should thrive for years to come can’t make it, what does that say about our economy and our leadership?”
