Students serving coffee with a smile at Hughes Brews
Students serving coffee with a smile at Hughes Brews
As the November mornings get cooler, Hughes Elementary has the perfect solution for the chill in the air. Each Friday morning, the Hughes Brews coffee cart is open and ready to serve hot, fresh coffee right outside the Hawks’ front door.
Operated by the Student Leadership Team, Hughes Brews has been open on Friday mornings all semester, plus at select school events. The cart is open throughout morning drop off times in front of Hughes, allowing parents an opportunity to purchase coffee. Then, students bring the cart inside and make their way down the hallways offering coffee to teachers and staff.
Hughes Brews has expanded throughout the semester and actually now consists of two carts stocked with hot coffee, iced tea, sugar, various creamers, cups, stirrers, etc. Many teachers and parents bring their own mugs to save the students some supplies, and regular customers have prepaid punch cards that save time at check out.
The entire school community has begun to support these young entrepreneurs, and now much of their supplies are donated. They’ve been listening to their customers, and that’s how tea was added to the menu. There are even discussions to add hot chocolate in the future.
With the guidance of Melissa Grumble, an intervention specialist, and Jaden Gary, a fifth-grade teacher, the 22 fifth-grade students that make up the Student Leadership Team take shifts working the cart.
Student Leadership is a Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association sanctioned program that teaches students leadership skills through community and school service projects. Proceeds from Hughes Brews have helped the group attend TEPSA officer training and also fund future projects.
In addition to the math and time management skills needed to run their small business, the Hughes Hawks running the cart are also growing their confidence and conversation skills.
Parents and teachers are raving about the incredible convenience and great prices. The Hughes community can get a great cup of coffee for just $1, but also upgrade to “fancy” creamer for just 25 cents more.
The entrepreneur in us all knows that price and convenience can only get you so far. It takes great customer service and relationships to keep your customers coming back, and the Hughes Hawks are certainly making happy customers one cup of coffee at a time.