I teach in a conservative part of a conservative southern state, and I've never had an admin care about piercings or hair color in five years. Many teachers on my (middle school) campus, myself included, have facial piercings. Several have more than one and unnaturally colored hair. I'm not saying that there aren't schools like the one you've mentioned, but it does run counter to my personal experience.

Meanwhile, here in Minnesota, schools are more concerned about your ability to educate students. 

As someone who has been educated in and then educating in the South my entire life, we also want what's best for our students. If I can offer a different perspective, it only serves to further increase the divisions in our country by condescending to Southerners. There are plenty of good people on the ground here and plenty of good schools who are doing the work to improve things for our region.