Lace School Principal Martin Casey is a man of his word, and because of it, he has become a man with much less hair on his head.

Three months ago the silver-haired Casey challenged students at Lace School in Darien to collectively meet high standards in the Illinois State Achievement Test.

On Tuesday, June 9, Casey followed through on his end of the deal when he had his head shaved in front of an assembly of a few hundred students, teachers and staff in the school’s gymnasium. Casey’s wife, Susan, and son, Daniel, 9, also watched from inside the gym.

“I challenged the students to get a minimum of an 85 percent on their ISAT tests, and according to unofficial numbers released by the Illinois State Board of Education, they held up their end of the bargain. Now I am going to hold up my end,” said Martin Casey.

The official tally will not come until after school is dismissed for summer, so Martin Casey wanted to make sure the students received their just due anyway.

“The kids deserved to see this before school is dismissed for the summer, so I decided to do it today,” he said.

Students were unaware of the purpose of the 10 a.m. assembly until all were seated, and Martin Casey took the microphone to remind them of the challenge.

In March, students were presented three options in the event they succeeded: Martin Casey would either shave his head, wear a Chicago White Sox jersey — he is a staunch Cub fan — or sit on the roof of the building all day long.

“It was close call between shaving my head or wearing the White Sox jersey, but the final vote favored shaving my head,” he said.

Seated in a folding chair on a stage in the school’s gymnasium, Martin Casey had his hair cut by professional stylist Beth Lauzon, daughter of school secretary Patty Lauzon.

Throughout the shaving Martin Casey wore a black T-shirt with the White Sox logo on it.
“Wearing a White Sox shirt was the hardest part of it,” said Martin Casey.

The challenge and subsequent shaving endeared Casey to students and educators.
“I really liked it. It is very short,” said fifth-grader Demi Stavropoulos of Darien.

Warren Johnson, superintendent of Darien School District 61, attended the event and said “the promise” is the type of thing that has made Martin Casey special to his students.

“This is such a unique way to connect with the kids and engage them, but Martin has always had a strong relationship with his students,” Johnson said.

When the shaving was complete, Martin Casey chatted with, an received high fives from, students as they returned to their classrooms.

“The funny thing is I had planned to get a haircut last weekend, but now I am glad I didn’t,” he said.