School Principal Shaves Head After Students Raise $15k for Haiti Relief

Jan. 22 was a day of major backfires at two Midwestern schools.

In Kansas City, Mo., Olathe Northwest High School teacher and basketball coach Joel Branstrom was told he’d receive tickets to the NCAA’s Final Four if he could sink a half-court shot while wearing a blindfold, an almost impossible feat. It was all part of a prank, and the school had no such tickets. One problem: He made the shot. (An anonymous donor reportedly gave him tickets several days later.)

Eight hundred miles north, in the town of Devils Lake, N.D., Central Middle School principal Josh Johnson also made a promise he didn’t think he’d have to keep. At the beginning of the week, he told students he’d shave his head if they raised $5,000 for The Salvation Army’s disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

The students raised the money – and then some. Johnson soon found himself being sheared like a sheep in front of bleachers filled with his students, howling in victory.

He wasn’t the only school official to go bald. During the week, teacher Jake Wateland offered to shave his head if the students raised $7,000. Soon after, custodian Todd Lagassee upped the ante to $10,000. Then, the big one: teacher Sis Eisenzimmer went all-in with $15,000.

The students called the teachers’ bluffs by raising more than $15,000. The teachers – save Eisenzimmer – were forced to join Johnson in the barber’s chair. (Teacher Kermit Thompson, in all his chivalry, took Eisenzimmer’ spot.)

“Not in my wildest dreams did I think our students would raise $15,000 for the people in Haiti, let alone $5,000,” Johnson said. “The staff and I are so proud of the students here at CMS and believe this will be a life-long learning experience for them.”

During the event, local Salvation Army volunteer and local board chair Even Heustis gave the kids a presentation about The Salvation Army. He was joined by Salvation Army case worker Lisa Ripplinger.  

“(We) commend Evan Heustis on providing the background history on The Salvation Army and really inspiring our students to continue to support worthy causes throughout their lives,” Johnson said. “The staff at Central Middle School believe that the money raised will be used by the Salvation Army in many useful ways in Haiti.”

Hundreds of Salvation Army staff and officers continue to provide food, water and medical treatment to tens of thousands of displaced Haitians.       

(Photo at top, from left: Salvation Army case worker Lisa Ripplinger; teacher Kermit Thompson; principal Josh Johnson; custodian Todd Lagasse; teacher Jake Wateland; Salvation Army volunteer and local board chair Evan Heustis.)