Gallery • 5 Photos

Camryn Handberg

Two students are at the Pony Brew store, making a purchase for themselves

What began as a single traveling coffee cart operating just one hour a day has grown into a thriving student-run coffee shop located in room C110. Staff and students can now stop by during first, second and third hours to purchase a variety of beverages and snacks, all served by students from the special education department. In addition to the new shop location, the original coffee cart continues to operate in the front rotunda during the same hours, expanding both access and opportunities for students.

“We started the coffee cart because we were having trouble finding work experiences for our students, especially students that needed more support,” special education teacher Dusty Dennis said. “We decided since we couldn’t solve the problem outside in the community we would solve it inside.”

Since the traveling coffee cart opened for business 5 years ago, it has provided real work and retail experiences to students.

Special education teacher Jon Hinzman is the work experience coordinator. “We have numerous students who come in with different ability levels and work throughout the day, whether it be stocking, selling, customer service and safety. This has really grown and provided students with great opportunities to build work skills,” Hinzman said.

Looking to expand opportunities for students to gain more retail experience, the staff opened the Pony Store 3 years ago. Along with the Pony Brew, the store provides students with meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. Through their work, students build confidence while gaining real-world experience that incorporates math, reading and communication skills into everyday tasks. These experiences help students practice important life and workplace skills in a supportive environment.

Communication is a large part of learning while working at the Pony Brew and store. Speech and language pathologist Leah Hamilton supports students who use augmentative and alternative communication.  AAC refers to tools, strategies and technologies used to support or replace spoken language for individuals with speech or language difficulties.

“Essentially, it is a way that some students communicate in addition to or instead of using speech,” Hamilton said.

When students come to purchase items they may find a student employee who is using AAC. “So our students might be using communication devices which are iPads or computer type systems that can help them speak. Some of our students use switches that will have a pre-programmed message so that they can interact with customers and make deliveries for coffee cart. Then we have other students who use what we call low tech symbols. I know that there is a script at the coffee cart where some students can use symbols to help them communicate with customers,” Hamilton said.

With the success of the Pony store they have outgrown their current space and will be relocating to room D124 in April.

“I love working at the Pony store,” sophomore Helena McConnell said. “I love talking to other kids and interacting with other kids.”

One of the main goals of these businesses is to get the students out and get them employed outside in the community, and to be successful and strong community members, according to Hinzman.

“We just appreciate the people coming in here. That means a lot to us, because when people come in here during the day it gives our students the opportunity to serve them, and I am big into service and helping others. So we’d like to thank the people that come in here. We’d also like to thank the students who take this class, because it means a lot that they come in here and want the opportunity to learn and grow,” Hinzman said.

Freshman Ellie Misner hopes that the skills she is learning working at the Pony store will help her to get a job after she graduates. “Not like at a store but like a business, like at a play place with kids,” Misner said.

Be sure to stop in at any of the three locations. Your purchase helps student employees build confidence and develop life long job and life skills that will carry them into the future.