Student-Run Coffee Cart Teaches Teamwork and Inclusion at Compton Elementary

Math teacher Caleb Garrett's program helps students with special needs work alongside their peers to deliver coffee to teachers.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:35pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

At Compton Elementary School in Powder Springs, Georgia, math teacher Caleb Garrett has created a student-run coffee cart program called the Compton Coffee Café. Fifth-grade students, including those with special needs, work together to prepare and deliver iced coffee drinks to teachers throughout the school. The program aims to promote teamwork, communication, and inclusion among the students.

Why it matters

The Compton Coffee Café provides a unique opportunity for students with and without special needs to interact and learn from each other in a supportive environment. The program helps build a sense of community within the school and teaches valuable life skills like customer service, problem-solving, and empathy.

The details

At the Compton Coffee Café, students take orders from teachers online and then work together to prepare the drinks before delivering them throughout the school. The program was started by Garrett and special education teacher Elizabeth Evans to give students a chance to work on their communication and teamwork skills. When mistakes happen, Garrett uses them as teaching moments to help the students learn and grow.

  • The Compton Coffee Café program was started in 2026 at Compton Elementary School in Powder Springs, Georgia.

The players

Caleb Garrett

A math teacher at Compton Elementary School who created the Compton Coffee Café program to promote teamwork and inclusion among his students.

Elizabeth Evans

A special education teacher at Compton Elementary School who co-founded the Compton Coffee Café program with Caleb Garrett.

Alani

A fifth-grade student at Compton Elementary School who participates in the Compton Coffee Café program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This has such a great impact. So, when our kids walk around the school, other children are recognizing them. They're saying hello and they're building that natural communication in that really safe environment.”

— Elizabeth Evans, Special Education Teacher (cbsnews.com)

“It's so fun because we get to talk to each other, and we get to talk to the other teachers when we're delivering to them.”

— Alani, Fifth-Grade Student (cbsnews.com)

“Just to think about how do we treat others that maybe are different than us … just building that community and spreading kindness throughout the world.”

— Caleb Garrett, Math Teacher (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Compton Coffee Café program will continue to operate at Compton Elementary School, providing students with opportunities to develop important life skills and build a more inclusive community.

The takeaway

The Compton Coffee Café program demonstrates how a simple idea can have a profound impact on students, fostering teamwork, communication, and empathy among those with and without special needs. This program serves as an inspiring example of how educators can create meaningful learning experiences that bring a community together.