Mr. Cook grew up in a family full of hair stylists so he was destined to be in this field, some way, some shape or form. He graduated from beauty school in 1993 and continued on to student teaching. While student teaching, he worked in a number of salons in the Philadelphia area. When he completed his student teaching, he knew that education was his calling. His passion for teaching grew and he went on to educate future hair designers for ten years. He moved to Southern Delaware in 2001 to help establish Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology. In 2010 Mr. Cook relocated back to the Philadelphia area, due to strong family ties and began teaching cosmetology in a local vocational high school. He earned his degree in vocational education from Temple University. Mr. Cook has returned to Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology as the school director and hopes to continue what he started in 2003, to make Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology one of the finest schools on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Ms. Melody originally came to Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology in 2005 as a Cosmetology student. She quickly realized that she never wanted to leave. Ms. Melody loves every aspect of the beauty industry and has a strong background in the finance industry. After graduating from the Cosmetology program it just so happened that Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology was in need of a Financial Aid Administrator, and the rest is history. Ms. Melody loves meeting with all students to discuss how to make their dreams a reality. She gets great satisfaction from being able to help those who didn’t think it was possible to go back to school.
Lindzey started her journey with the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology as a Guest service coordinator. Four years later, Lindzey accepted the position of Career Placement Specialist and couldn’t be more excited to help students reach their goals in the industry. She is now striving daily for all students’ success. Being the first person our future professionals come in contact with, I love to see the excitement for them to further their education. Watching each student grow and become a stylist, esthetician, or nail technician gives her the most excellent satisfaction. Ms. Lindzey Lives by the quote, “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.”
Ms. LaDawn at the age of 8 years old grew a passion for cutting and curling hair on her dolls. . At the age of 12 she started testing her talent on family members and friends which ultimately she gained a great reputation for her love of doing hair. She decided to change her career and take her passion seriously in 2015 she graduated from Delaware Learning of Cosmetology. LaDawn moved on immediately behind the chair starting out as a new stylist at Hair Cuttery after just a year she was promoted to Assistant Salon Leader where she further realized that her passion not only making others feel and look good but her drive to lead and educate other stylists was something she loved to do. Her Passion for other successes and how new stylists are trained was something that she really felt drawn to. She wanted to give back everything that was given to her along her journey as a stylist. She let her heart lead her to becoming an educator at Delaware Learning of Institute where she is proud to pay it forward in educating future professionals.
Before embarking on her journey as an educator, Miss Ashley was a licensed cosmetologist and nail technician for six years in various spas and salons. She worked alongside top industry professionals in both Delaware and Maryland. She strives to educate young stylists and be the flame that ignites their passion and creativity.
Will has been in the cosmetic and hair industry for over 30 years. William started in this industry as an apprentice in a multicultural salon in Baltimore, Maryland. After spending several years working as a stylist, he decided to pursue a career in makeup artistry and cosmetic sales. He was a district regional trainer and educator. He oversaw the onboarding, education, and development of eighteen stores in three states. This is where he acquired his passion for educating in this industry.
William has done makeup for television, print campaign ads, and New York City fashion week, as well as led multiple education seminars for upward to five hundred women at a time. Besides being an educator for the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology, he owns and operates a hair and makeup business specializing in weddings and special occasions. In addition, William is an alumnus of the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology.
Ms. Keira is our esthetics educator at Delaware Learning Institute. Her career began in the retail world, working for brands such as Shiseido, bareMinerals, and Estee Lauder, as well as as a freelance makeup artist. After graduating from Delaware Learning Institute’s esthetics program, she worked in several locations around Sussex County before becoming an educator. Her love for knowledge, service, and making people feel beautiful is what drives her passion for this role.
Ileana Santos is a woman dedicated to the beauty industry and specialized in nail technology, with more than twenty-five years of experience working with all types of nail enhancement. She is now dedicated and committed to the education of aspiring nail technicians.
Ms. Brionna is an Indian River high school graduate. She was raised in a family of salon professionals and was always being taught little tricks of the trade. Ms. Brionna has been in the service industry since before graduating high school and loves working with people. She feels the key to customer service is building good relationships with the customer. She is very excited to be a part of the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology family, and to learn more about this exciting field everyday.
Cosmetics, hair and fashion became Ms. Ashley’s’ passion very early on in her life. However, it wasn’t until her early 20’s that she came to realize that she not only admired those things but possessed a natural talent and gained the self confidence to begin the journey of turning her gifts into a career. Ms. Ashley has been helping men and women not only look their best but feel great since 2008! In the more recent years she has become a licensed Esthetics educator, which she feels allows her to teach other women how to provide the best face/skin care treatments, makeup and other advanced services. Within the last four years, Ms. Ashley has accomplished many things starting with becoming a licensed Esthetics Educator, since then she has became a Bella Lash Classic and Volume Lash Extensions Educator, Dermalogica certified, certified in threading, dermaplanning, lash lifting and most recently trained to provide Cryoskin toning, slimming and facial treatments. With all of Ms. Ashley’s education and training, she takes great pride in educating men and women on how to provide the best skin care treatments and many advanced services. Ms. Ashley is geared on always continuing her education to be able to teach her students the most current and new methods for treatments as well as keeping up with trends in the industry. Ms. Ashley ensures that not only her students but clients as well are using products of the upmost quality and also produce amazing results!
Ms. Amanda feels that she can’t really call what she does “work” because she loves what she does. She graduated from Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology in 2013 and began her career as a stylist at Beach Waves, a family salon in Lewes, DE. Being creative and having the ability to put a smile on a clients face is what she loves the most about being a stylist. Ms. Amanda feels knowledge is power and that continuing education is key in the success of her career. In 2015 she began a new journey within the industry and became an educator at Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology. She has said that it is an amazing feeling to have an impact on the success of a students future and being able to share her love for the industry, passing on knowledge, and watching students grow. In late 2016 she decided to return to Beach Waves full time. She is currently continuing her education and still holds a substitute position at Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology.
Ms. Katy is a graduate of Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology and has been in the industry for 9 years. She is from Bridgeville, Delaware and currently works at Beauty for Ashes in Laurel, Delaware. Ms. Katy feels the most rewarding part of being a Cosmetology educator is watching her students grow and learn how to be successful in their trade.
Lachhimi Taylor is a licensed esthetics instructor in the state of Delaware, as well as, a licensed practicing esthetician with the state of Maryland. Lachhimi’s professional experience within the beauty industry gives her over seventeen years of growth, knowledge, and expertise. Lachhimi’s path through the salon and spa industry has allowed her to play various roles. Starting at an entry level position, as a guest service representative, to a makeup artist, retail business specialist, esthetician, esthetics instructor, and a general manger are just a few of the many transitions she has made. Her time as a guest service representative, allowed her to understand the importance of establishing rapport with not only clients but with the community as well. This development gave Lachhimi the opportunity to advance as a lead makeup artist and retail business specialist, with Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas (Washington, DC). Along with the service side, she also began to understand the challenges for technicians that struggled with selling retail or upgrading services. Acknowledging their concerns and daily encouragement of their achievements, increased sales and inturn advanced her into overseeing the retail sales and then management. Lachhimi strongly believes in the importance to staying educated, being current, and always sharing knowledge. As an educator with the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology, Lachhimi provided a wealth of knowledge that would assist graduating students to pass the sate mandated practical and written exams. Lachhimi has been awarded by the readers of, “The Metropolitain Magazine”, ‘Best Esthetician’, 2013 and 2017. She has also been chosen ‘Best Esthetician’, from the readers of, “Coastal Style”, 2016 and 2017. Lachhimi is also a member of the Advisory Board Committee for the Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology, and also serves as an Adjunct Instructor. Lachhimi is a part of the management team and practices esthetics fulltime at About Faces Salon and Spa, in Salisbury, MD.
