My name is Demetra Bolden and I am a Cosmetology teacher at Woodruff Career and Technical Center. I was born and raised here in Peoria, and am one of 13 children, all of whom attended and graduated from Woodruff. I am also the mother of one outstanding son.

After graduating from Woodruff, I attended Bradley University where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, with a minor in Biology and Foreign Language.

Cosmetology is a second career for me. I have always been creative and loved styling hair. Hence, I decided to totally switch gears in life and obtained a Cosmetology license which later led to becoming an instructor. I attended Dudley Beauty College, Chicago, IL, and received my Cosmetology Instructor’s license. My desire was to own my own Cosmetology school. In 2008, my dream came true! I opened the first black-owned Cosmetology School in Peoria, The Illinois Institute of Cosmetology, where I trained and graduated several adults in the beauty industry.

After a few years, I wrote a proposal to bring Cosmetology back to Peoria Public Schools. Permission was granted and I was allowed to design and develop the program that we have today.

I’ve had many achievements throughout my life, but teaching has been one of the most rewarding. It’s my calling and my passion, and I feel so blessed to be able to help students soar in a profession that is so dear to my heart.