Dylan Cleland, Kenzie McClain, Maddie Hice, Jeffery Backus, Colton Pikovsky
Many students and staff stop by “Coffee for a Cause” on a daily basis for a coffee, tea or cookie. “Coffee for a Cause,” also known as the coffee shop inside Penn-Trafford High School, serves a variety of beverages along with some different cookies throughout the school day to students and staff.
The shop is open Mondays through Fridays during most periods, allowing almost every student a chance to stop. The process to manage and maintain the coffee shop is in-depth, as it was designed by the special education department to assist students with transitioning and obtaining real-life job experience.
“We opened the coffee shop at the start of the 2011-12 year and we were just opened for half days. First through fourth period.” said Dawn Blank, special education instructor at PTHS.
Blank and Tera Enick, another special education teacher at P-T, explained the thought process and need for opening the coffee shop.
“The original purpose was to provide our students with job opportunities in a more structured setting. We were able to have them here and monitor them so they could learn the skills before they move into the community,” Enick shared.
The skills include communication, math, dealing with job supervisors, coworkers and customers.
Senior Luke Krumenacker has worked at the coffee shop during all four years of his high school career. Throughout the time spent working, Krumenacker said he has learned a variety of skills.
“I’ve learned maturity, communication skills, politeness, and how to be respectful to customers,” Krumenacker said.
These are just a few of the skills that help the coffee shop to continuously be successful. Linda Loughner, a job coach at the coffee shop, said that communication is the most important skill they have learned.
“They have other gifts, but there are times when you can’t hear them. When we aren’t as busy, I love when they can stand around and socialize with each other,” Loughner said.
The coffee shop has not only been a benefit for the students working; the entire school has grown to enjoy and utilize the shop daily.
“As far as the students and staff, it is beneficial to them to get to know our students and build friendships, as well as giving our students a sense of confidence,” added Blank.
Blank and Enick explained that since the coffee shop has opened it has led to other opportunities outside of the high school. Based off of the skills learned, students have been placed in other jobs outside of the high school allowing them to travel around for more work experience.
“For example, we have been able to place a student at Eat N’ Park as a dishwasher,” Blank said.
This was also the case for Krumenacker, who after starting in the coffee shop now works locally.
“I have worked at Sweet Buzz for a year now. I do the dishes, wash and put them away,” Krumenacker said.
Back at the coffee shop, Loughner shared more about the daily operations that they use to keep everything under control at the often busy coffee spot.
“In the beginning of the year we train them on the procedure to fill an order,” Loughner said.
She also stated that they focus on many of the skills mentioned earlier in addition to overcoming mistakes and cleaning up.
“Having pride in your work, that is very important. We expect a certain standard because employers will ultimately expect them as well,” Loughner said.
Krumenacker shared some of his duties, including his favorite.
“I run register, my favorite one, and fill orders,” Krumenacker said.
The coffee shop has doubled in size over the past few years. Each day they gain new customers while still seeing regulars as well. After the renovations last year, the shop moved back into the media center with double the amount of work space than they began with in 2011. The skills taught continue to help the workers, not only inside the shop but also outside in the community where many students have received an opportunity to start in a new job within the school district.