Meet the Team
Meet the team at Charles & Sue’s School of Hair Design! All of our educators are licensed with the State of Texas and have multiple certifications from Redken. We know how important it is to research cosmetology schools near you and how meaningful it is to learn about the staff, educators and culture. Our Co-Founder and School President is Charles Fikes.
Tracy Gilstrap
School Director, Financial Aid Officer & Title IX Coordinator
Tracy’s hairstyling journey began in the family business – her parents, Charles and Sue Fikes, owned a hair school in Snyder, Texas. After moving the school to Bryan/College Station in 1971, Tracy attended in 1981 and later became an instructor at Charles & Sue’s School of Hair Design in 1982. She deepened her skills with five professional trainings at Pivot Point International. She acquired business expertise under the guidance of her father.
Debbie Kelley
Admissions Representative, Financial Aid Representative & Title IX Designated Investigator
Debbie is the first person most students meet; she takes students on their first tour of our school and answers any questions they may have about our program. Debbie always has a smile on her face and is someone anyone can share a laugh with. Debbie says her favorite part of her job is watching students transform and grow into amazing people, not just stylists.
Adrian Thomas
Educator/Team Leader
Adrian got her cosmetology start at Baldwin Beauty in Austin, Texas in 2008. She then decided to become an educator and attended Bella Beauty in Waco, Texas in 2014 where she taught for a year and a half. She became an educator because one of her clients wanted her to! Charles & Sue’s School of Hair Design was very excited to welcome Adrian as an educator in 2018. As a stylist, her favorites are creative hair designs, especially wigs and extensions. She loves to help make people feel beautiful and she loves being a mentor to help students find what they love in this industry.
Heather Spikes
Educator/Team Leader
Bio coming soon!
Ariel Rickman
Educator/Team Leader
My passion for hair, makeup, and beauty has only grown stronger over time. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a cosmetologist. In high school, I offered hair services in my neighborhood, further fueling my love for the industry. I enrolled at Charles & Sue’s in 2022 and, after six months, was accepted into an apprenticeship at Funky Cheveux, where I gained invaluable experience.
In June 2023, I became an educator and discovered the joy of empowering others. I’m grateful to be part of this ever-evolving industry and committed to helping my students succeed while living my dream.
