Noah : My name is Noah.
I give coffee to teachers.
Cha Ching!!
*laughing*
Sadie: As a special ed teacher you have
on average kids in three different grade levels
and within those grade levels depending on what students you have
you are planning for each of those students.
"You are each going to have a cup"
Noah: Hey! We've got a talker over here.
Sadie: So there is the cirriculum aspect,
but I'm also trying to think long range and with the families looking at
okay, where are these kids going like high school and beyond the rest of their lives.
My name is Sadie Guthrie and I am a special ed teacher
at Lawton Alternative School.
(SoulPancake Presents)
(Class Act)
I think the advantage special ed teachers have
is that we get so close to the family
and we work so hard with certain students everyday.
That you kind of...
you can't not have an emotional relationship
with these families and kids.
Sometimes it's really difficult for special ed,
or in school settings to be like "Okay go talk to this person".
But if you don't have like a common ground
it's pretty difficult.
And I think when I thought to bring coffee cart
to Lawton. I just really thought there could be nothing
better to like, improve our community and give the kids in my class, like,
more opportunity to become a part of the greater school community.
Wedad: My name is Wedad My job in the coffee cart is to ask the teachers
if they want coffee.
Jacky: My name is Jacky. I am the barista.
Nathan: My name is Nathan. I am the cashier. I take the money.
David: My name is David. I pour the coffee.
Sadie: I think everyone was a little hesitant to start.
They like didn't really...
...get the purpose.
But then once I kind of explained we are learning job skills,
and independence and responsibility
and all of these functional skills
and you know we are being a part of the community!
It kind of started to click and then once we started doing it ,
it just, you know, rocketed!
We go to Devil's Teeth which is a local bakery
and we get a baked good donation.
We are like now out in the ACTUAL community
showing people really what we are capabale of.
Then we have to learn transportation skills
which are really important in big, urban cities.
We then have to take the transportation to get the baked goods.
Where we do, kind of, social interactions with strangers.
Safe strangers, obviously.
Noah: Hello. My name is Noah and I'm from Lawton Middle School
and we are here to pick up the baked goods.
Baker: Awesome, we're going to get those right up for you Noah.
Noah: YEAH!!
Sadie: So coffee cart is kind of cool because we are creating like community within
our school.
And it's mobile so my students are getting out of the classroom.
They're being seen as like very productive contributing members of our school.
Principal: Oh! You have my favorite scones.
So I would like a scone to accompany my tea please.
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, that they have a place.
"Favorite time of day! Its coffee cart."
Jacky: Here you go.
Principal : Beautiful thank you Jacky, Wedad, Nathan.
Sadie: Alright we have another customer Wadad.
Jacky: Wedad, customer.
Teacher #1: Well thank you. How are you doing today Jacky?
Jacky: Pretty good.
Teacher #1 : Good. Nathan how are you? I love your shirt Nathan.
Nathan: Thanks.
Sadie: So at the start of the year
most of the other teachers, I mean they knew of my students.
But they didn't know their names, or didn't really know their abilities
or personalities.
And so now at this point, now that we are at the end of the year.
Teachers know all of my students names.
They know what they like to do, they kind of know how they are.
Teacher #2: Oh yes! I'm the lemon bar girl.
Do we have any lemon bars today Wedad ?
Wedad: Yeah we do have lemon bars.
Teacher #2: Not only will I see Wedad first, but when I see her,
and smile I can see her face just brighten up automaticially.
And then Jacky has a tremendous sense of humor. He is very cynical which I love.
And then two more brownies.
Jacky: Two more brownies, two more.
Teacher #2: Because it's not for me, you know. Who is it for Jacky?
Who is it for?
Jacky: For you!
Teacher #2 : No! Who's it for?
Wedad: For your kids.
Teacher #2: Yes! That's it! Ding Ding! You got it!
Sadie: Yeah we know Jacky does't believe you.
Teacher #2: Jacky knows the truth.
Sadie: You know they are incredibly charasmatic. There is something about each and every one
of them that, you know, makes you want to like talk to
them more or see them more.
Coffee cart is a special, unique thing that no other students get to do.
So they kind of big man on campus kind of thing.
They really like it and feel important when they do it.
I see so much in them
and kids with disablities in general
so when I hear people, kind of, you know what,
even unintentionally kind of put them down
or not expect the best, it um..
it's hard.
Even if you face challenges, those challenges aren't necessarily the important part
it's more like what are the skills that you do have that you are going to use to move
forward.
So it's less about what are you struggling with,
it's more about like....
how awesome can you be?