A fresh work skills opportunity is brewing for students in the St. Lucie Public Schools (SLPS) Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program. On Tuesday, April 11, a student-run enterprise known as Student Perks will begin selling coffee and pastries in a kiosk on the first floor breezeway of the Board of County Commissioners Administration Building located at 2300 Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for 8:30 AM on opening day. Patrons working in the Administration Building as well as customers from the general public are welcome to purchase items every Tuesday from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM. According to Job Coach Martha Taylor, “Student Perks offers a uniquely hands-on learning experience for SLPS students. Entrepreneurs operating the shop partner with peers in the Port St. Lucie High Culinary Arts Class for the pastries that are sold.” This fits right in with the Student Perks tagline, “It’s more than coffee!”
The Board of County Commissioners embraced the initiative, recognizing that ordering seemingly simple items like coffee and pastries, supports skills that can be maximized to aid students’ employability skills. Coffee and snacks will be served every Tuesday morning from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM. Participants in the Student Perks program will receive support from a SLPS Job Coach.
All proceeds from the coffee shop will offset Student Perks’ expenses. For information, contact SLPS Job Coach Martha Taylor at 772-370-0891 or SLC Human Resources Manager Douglas Baber at 772-462-5267.
