Martinez, GA (WRDW/WAGT) – The top New Year’s resolutions for 2023 are to reduce work stress, improve household finances, and spend more time with family.
All the reasons workers keep leaving for new opportunities. While a career in skin care is particularly attractive to pandemic-weary nurses, our I-TEAM helps new and growing business students lose time, money, and a second career. discovered.
I-TEAM discovered that there are only 5 accredited aesthetic schools in Georgia. Four of his facilities opened during the pandemic, including the Brian Sexton Aesthetics Institute in Martinez.
After attending classes here for nine months and forking thousands of dollars, this school is the only option for people living in this area besides driving to the next closest school in Colombia.
Andrea Williams is a nurse who turned to aesthetic school because she wanted to switch from seeing patients to seeing clients.
Andrea’s story began a year before she met I-TEAM in the summer of 2022.
She will be enrolled as a student at the Bryan Sexton Esthetics Institute in 2021.
The school is located in the Rosebay Medi Spa on Washington Road.
Andrea has entered a payment plan for a 9-month program. About $7,000 in tuition, including deposit and fees, all for her price tag of just over $10,000.
“It actually goes to my husband’s BD Sexton cash app,” she explains.
According to state records, Dwayne Sexton (aka Bobby Sexton) and Liz Bryan (aka Liz Sexton) are the owners of the school.
Andrea said she sent over $2,000 directly to a Zelle account listed as Bobby Sexton, and over $2,000 to CashApp accounts listed as Dwain and Elizabeth sexton.
Fast forward to the program end date of March 21, 2022.
‘When I came to work the following Tuesday after work, I was told not to come in because my work hours weren’t over yet,’ explains Andrea.
I-TEAM found that the cosmetology board requires approval of 1,000 course hours by certified instructors before a student is eligible to take the national esthetician exam.
Board rules and regulations also require instructors to approve weekly hours earned by students.
“She said 81 hours of service or treatment had to be completed before she could continue, and the rest was owed to the school,” says Andrea.
The contract she signed contains the following clauses:
“The Brian Sexton Institute of Aesthetics will not release accredited hours or transcripts to the Licensing Commission or other schools unless financial and contractual obligations for the hours earned are met.”
Andrea filed four complaints with the Georgia Secretary of State. Among them are the following, in which she writes her owner.
“Did not provide a weekly sheet of current credit hours signed by the student and instructor … nor did she perform a clinical competency check-off during her attendance.”
In her second complaint to the state, Andrea alleges negligence or unfair business practices, particularly for items on her school invoice.
“When she billed me, she had $25,000 in tuition and a $15,000 CSRA award, which I had no idea about.”
The Bryan Sexton Georgia Institute of Esthetics website lists several scholarships.
Opportunity, but if you click the link, you will find that the scholarship is only for students attending accredited schools.
BSEI is state licensed but not accredited. This is the only scholarship they can apply for.
Andrea says she doesn’t know to apply for a scholarship.
In her complaint to the state, she wrote that she had never applied for the award or received any notice, but somehow she received it. I’m here. The tuition fee is not reduced more than 3 times.
Tuition on the invoice is $25,900.
Her contract tuition is $6,806.
Owens learned more about her program with Elizabeth Bryan.
Liz Owens: “Student said he had never applied for a scholarship of any kind, but he has received notification that he has received a scholarship. Automatic enrollment?”
Brian: “As long as they are CSRA residents, they can receive the location.”
Owner Liz Bryan has donated and student spa services fund CSRA scholarships.
Owens: “The total cost of the program is $12-15, but you said the scholarship was $25,000, so I’m confused.”
Brian: “Yes.”
Owens: “Is it just an advertising ploy to act like Hay?”
Brian: “No”
The invoices Andrea submitted to I-TEAM show that she paid about $8,000 in tuition.
“School told me I was balanced. I don’t deny being balanced,” says Andrea.
But not as much as they say she owes.
“Then I decided to go to another school. I requested my time and was handed my time, but it was unsigned, so it was an unofficial copy.
Andrea completed her last 88 hours at another school and her instructor approved the state for her to take the state board exam.
PSI has scheduled her test for June 9, 2022. They are a 3rd party testing company under contract with the State of Georgia.
The day before the test, PSI canceled my test appointment.
Andrea was stunned. “They claim to have sent a letter explaining why they canceled and are not involved in the student’s school’s financial dispute.”
Andrea filed a fourth complaint. My account is still disabled. Before I could unblock my account, I had to get a call from Mrs. Sexton to inform me that my account balance was full. Where in the Georgia Cosmetics Commission’s regulations does it say that you may be denied testing due to financial balance?
“We have been licensed for 30 years,” says Andrea. “I have never had a problem with the board not being able to provide information.”
Andrea is LPN licensed and can perform procedures that only a nurse can perform at a med spa.
She is also a Licensed Assistant Laser Practitioner.
Occasionally, she says I-TEAM Bryan will ask her for a job for hire.
In her third complaint she tells the owner:
Operate the Rosebay MediSpa business during BSEI school hours. Mrs. Sexton pulled me out of Level 1 and Level 11 classes and worked as a nurse to administer IVs and vitamin shots.
Two months after leaving school, it was reported that she was doing IV as a laser practitioner. Illegal under a laser license, but legal under an LPN license.
Andrea refused to sign public order. She has demanded a hearing to prove she has a license to perform IVs and expose a broken system that allows people in the beauty industry to retaliate against others in Georgia. bottom.
“I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t have a job. I had no money. I couldn’t. I couldn’t do anything,” says Rachel Jackson. She graduated from school last March.
“I asked Liz about her work hours and she kept rounding me off… I called the PSA, I called the state commission. I didn’t.”
Jackson indicated that Brian sent Venmo’s request to ITEAM for an additional $2,460 payment after Rachel asked about taking the state board exam to get her license.
Perhaps Liz Bryan didn’t send her time to the states – not because of the money owed, but maybe… because of what ITEAM found next. I didn’t become a licensed instructor until later.
“I don’t think she could have even really signed off,” Rachel adds.
The former student lodged a complaint with the state and posted it on social media.
“She’s mad. She’s just mad that I started all this.”
ITEAM obtained an audio recording of the owner talking about a former student in the 2021 class.
Voiced by Liz Bryan: “Rachel is causing a lot of involvement on the state board…..I don’t know what will happen but if I can do it she will get her license in the state Never will.I have a massage therapist.I am seeking her job now.
Kristina Carinno immediately recognizes these exact events.
“That’s me. That’s me. I’m a massage therapist. I’m my beauty instructor and esthetician. And I’m a spa owner.”
After graduating from the Bryan Sexton Institute of Esthetics, Rachel began her apprenticeship under Krystina Carrino.
And about a month later, the state flagged Christina’s massage therapy license.
Christina: “A public investigation is pending against me for unprofessional conduct.”
The state said her Elizabeth Bryan Sexton filed a complaint.
“I had nothing to do with Elizabeth when it came to anything related to massage. I was asked by the Cosmetics Commission about why Elizabeth had to take on an apprentice at her school, Rachel Jackson, who received over $10,000.” What I’m trying to find out. Why does this lady have to spend another 2000 hours to get her esthetic license?”
Nearly three years’ worth of students have sought help from boards, courts, law enforcement, or private agencies.
Christina explains: However, the board does not take these complaints seriously. they really don’t. ”
The State Cosmetics and Barbers Board told I-TEAM that it had turned the matter over to the Attorney General’s Office, saying, “At this time, all board members have been warned by the AG not to discuss anything on this matter.” Told.
“We’re trying to understand what’s going on with the Cosmetics and Licensing Board,” says Andrea. “Do they work in a different facility than other boards? I don’t know. I’m about to forget this esthetic license.In any case, it’s a disappointment.”
A system that allows the ugly side of beauty to break bank accounts and people before they even get into business.
After our first sitting with Liz Bryan, we contacted the owner multiple times. Neither responded.
Meanwhile, Andrea is contacted by Liz Bryan.
Brian’s attorney gave her a settlement agreement stating that if she repaid some of the money, deleted all negative social media posts, and distanced herself from news reporters, she would free up her working hours. Sent.
Andrea declined the offer.
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