SoulPancake | Class Act series brought to you by California Lottery

Thanks to a sweet and simple idea, special education teacher Ms. Sadie Guthrie has found an innovative way for students to thrive beyond the classroom. Having seen the need for her students to further develop practical life skills, Guthrie devised a plan: She started an on-campus coffee service run by her students to provide them the opportunity to learn about money, independence, personal responsibility, conflict resolution, and effective communication.

Guthrie’s special education students, who are typically isolated from the rest of their peers, take on different roles ranging from cashier to barista to greeter. Each morning, the team heads to a local bakery on the bus to pick up their goods for the day, teaching them to navigate the city’s transportation system and interact with locals.

By creating a community within their school, Coffee Cart allows students to get out of the classroom and be seen as productive, contributing members of society. According to Gina Ferrante, the school’s principal, “Any school in this country could take this example to help transform their own school community to make sure that every child feels accepted, that every child feels that they belong or that they have a place.”

And while students are learning practical skills that’ll help them out down the line, they’re also shaping their peers’ perception of them. “They’re incredibly charismatic — there’s something about each and every one of them that makes you want to talk to them more and see them more,” Guthrie explains. “Coffee Cart is such a special unique thing that no other students get to do, so it makes them feel important when they do it.”

“Even if you face challenges, those challenges aren’t necessarily the important part,” Guthrie says. “It’s less about what you’re struggling with, and it’s more about how awesome you can be.”

Watch the video above to learn more about how Guthrie and the Coffee Cart are changing students’ lives. For more information on how California Lottery contributes to public schools, visit: www.calottery.com/givingback.