The Alternative Press

WESTFIELD, NJ — Tamques Elementary School Principal Michael Cullen walked into Kennedy’s All American Barber Club the morning of March 18 for an extreme makeover in honor of his students and their annual Reading Marathon, which took place from March 1 through 12.

In an evolving school tradition, Cullen challenged students to read a combined total of 150,000 minutes and, in exchange, he would perform one of the crazy stunts they suggested. In past years he has kissed a python, been duct taped to a wall and spent a day on Roller Blades.

The students surpassed their goal this year, reading (or being read to) for a total of 378,000 minutes and raising over $10,300 that will be used to purchase books for the Tamaques library and to assist Union Beach Memorial School after damage sustained from Superstorm Sandy.

In return, Cullen grew out his hair and beard to undergo a transformation into school mascot Tami the Tiger for an assembly to be held that afternoon.  In this video, Master Barber Juan Garcia shaves Cullen’s head :

Cullen said that getting his head shaved and painted was worth it. “I’m very proud of them and very proud of the reading goals they met,” he said. Though he joked, “I’m afraid for next year.”

Cullen also wrote a song about reading to the tune of “Call me Maybe” to sing with the students that afternoon. Students who raised the most money and who read the most minutes were to be recognized at that assembly and attained their own private assembly with Snakes-N-Scales, a group that rescues reptiles and educates children about them.

The Reading Marathon Committee, chaired by Barbara Wellnitz, held several events in March to highlight the marathon and the importance of reading.  These included a used book drive and the second annual Tamaques PJ Story Time, when about 150 students came to the library one evening to hear stories read by Tamaques teachers and staff. Tamaques also hosted celebrated children's author Elizabeth Levy.