A select group of Union Hill Elementary students recently got to try their hand at becoming baristas.
Thanks to a partnership with Redbud Starbucks, the students in the school’s Functional Communication Class helped deliver coffee to teachers throughout the morning.
“We really want to give our kids practice on basic life skills so that they will be able to be successful members of their community when they get older,” said Dr. Sarah Willmore, FCC teacher and special operations department chair. “We thought it would be a really good opportunity for our kiddos, so we started calling different Starbucks locations, and the Redbud Starbucks immediately responded.”
Union Hill’s FCC teachers strive to help their predominantly non-verbal students practice life skills and functional communication with the outside world.
“Every teacher’s hope is that a community invests in the future generation… and that includes our students with sensitivities and disabilities,” said Willmore.
Students learned to take a teacher’s order, take the fake money that had been designated for the occasion, and then give teachers their requested items.
This was the FCC’s first time partnering with a community business. Lani Gacusana, manager of the Redbud Starbucks, said her team was excited to come help out.
“We got coverage from other stores to work at our store so that we could come out today,” she said.
The Starbucks team showed up with all the necessary supplies—from fresh coffee, to creamers and flavorings. They even brought some unexpected gifts like official Starbucks aprons and goodie bags for the children, and pastries and reusable cups for the teachers.
“[Starbucks] gave every teacher in this school a red reusable cup…that was extremely generous. The baristas were walking down the halls and would offer coffee to teachers who didn’t even sign up for it!” said Leslie Landa, an FCC Educational Assistant.
Willmore said that for some, the display of generosity was emotional.
“It was truly miraculous. Every single teacher had a smile on their face and it truly brings tears to my eyes. Seeing the support, and seeing our students who often don’t have a voice be supported was just overwhelming and truly special,” she said.
Willmore and Landa agreed, the event was a hit.
“I think it was a success all around,” Landa said. “I think [today] meant a lot, just because I’m sure that a lot of the kids that we have in this classroom wouldn’t have gotten to ever experience something like that… I think moving forward we definitely want to look out for more businesses that are willing to do more stuff like this.”
She said it was a day everyone at Union Hill Elementary will remember for quite some time.
“Not only was it a great experience for our students, it was also a great experience for the teachers,” Landa said. “I think teachers have the hardest job and they don’t get enough recognition. I think [gifts like] this really brightens people’s days.”
