2 Kaneland teachers fulfill pandemic vow by trimming shaggy locks, lengthy goatee

With a buzz here and a snip there, two Kaneland High School history teachers celebrated the first day of everybody being back in school Wednesday.

Eighteen months ago, Scott Parillo vowed not to trim his goatee and Kevin Larson not to cut his hair until the day all students were back on campus in a normal, five-day-a-week schedule.

“(The vow) was for the kids. You make a commitment, you do that,” Parillo said.

“He looked like Cousin It (of “The Addams Family”) when he put it all the way down,” Parillo said of Larson, who untied his hair and combed it forward to start the surprise assembly where they were groomed by fellow employee Lori Roberts, who has experience as a stylist.

The cuts were done in the auditorium in front of a few classes. Other students watched it on a livestream broadcast to classrooms.

Eight to 9 inches was cut from Parillo's goatee, which he's had for 31 years. He said his wife is “ecstatic” it is back to its normal length.

Parillo and Larson had planned to quietly trim themselves, but Principal Jill Maras thought it would be fun to make a to-do out of it.

“Here we are with a fresh look for a fresh start,” Parillo said.