Bison Baristas Serves Skills and Smiles at Beachwood Middle School

It’s 9 a.m. at Beachwood Middle School, and students Chase Taylor and Cameron Akuete are ready for their favorite part of the week. Donning aprons and food safety gloves, they slide a cardboard sleeve onto a coffee cup and prepare an order for one of their favorite customers: Officer Tony Longino.

Chase and Cameron are among the student baristas running the Bison Barista coffee cart, recently launched in intervention specialist Saree Doyle’s class. “The primary goal of the program is to provide students with a vocational experience through a multi-modal approach to learning new vocabulary, social awareness, employability skills, and authentic hands-on learning opportunities,” says Ms. Doyle.

Each week, students organize drink orders from staff, prepare beverages, navigate hallways with the cart, greet customers, and manage inventory. Along the way, they develop their communication, gross and fine motor, executive functioning, and social interaction skills. These tasks align with their individualized education plan (IEP) goals and are designed to build mastery and independence.

Career skills instructor Joseph Marino, who coordinates the program along with Ms. Doyle, notes significant progress among students. “We have noticed tremendous growth in our students’ ability to independently complete many of the weekly skills with minimal coaching,” he says. “When they walk through the halls, they are constantly being greeted by staff and praised for their delicious Friday coffees. Students are also being asked by their peers how they can make purchases for beverages.”

“The cart has naturally opened the doors for new social engagement that may not have been there before,” he adds.

Speech-language pathologist Emily Cleer-Estades agrees. “There are so many positive experiences the coffee cart has provided for our students,” she says. “The natural immersion into the school environment, the opportunity to begin pre-vocational skills, and the use of functional communication are some of the main ways the experience helps them to prepare for their transition into life after high school.”

Cameron’s mom, Tiffany Thomas, says the program is making a difference. “Every day I am in awe of his language growth and vocal interactions,” she says. “I am passionate about finding creative ways to help Cameron navigate a world that often does not understand him. This initiative supports my mission and makes everyone smile.” 

Chase’s mom, Chante Thomas, agrees. She shares that Chase comes home talking about his day, who he saw, and even helps make her coffee – often while singing a song. “Chase loves the coffee cart program,” says Ms. Thomas. “His confidence has grown so much! I am really grateful that this program exists for all of the students in Chase’s cohort!”

“The staff is very supportive of the program,” says Ms. Doyle. “They do a great job of modeling the proper personal space, eye contact, and responses to what our students say or do.”

The impact is easy to see. In the front lobby, Chase and Cameron greet Officer Tony with big smiles. “How much cream and sugar?” they ask.

Officer Tony requests two creams and two sugars. After handing him his drink, the boys exchange fist bumps with him. Then, taking turns, the students push the cart back to Ms. Doyle’s classroom.

When asked about their favorite part of the experience, Cameron says, “pushing the cart.” For Chase, it’s “seeing Officer Tony.”

Beyond the life skills it reinforces, Bison Baristas has become a morale booster across the school. Says Mr. Marino, “Staff have asked if we could offer the cart twice a week in the future, especially on Mondays!”