Pathway Café eyes growth as students build skills, serve staff

Buoyed by early success, a new coffee service at the St. Croix Falls School District is already looking ahead to expanding their menu and hopefully establishing a permanent coffee shop, as the special education program continues to help students gain real-world job and life skills. The aptly named Pathway Café helps students with special needs gain independence, and further their connection to the staff who want to see them succeed after they graduate.

“We wanted to have a name that represented transitions,” said St. Croix Falls Special Education Teacher Kylee Anderson. “It’s the kids that are in our transition program running the coffee shop. We’re hoping that through the coffee shop, the way that people view the kids changes, as far as the skills and the things that they’re able to do. A lot of times, kids in special education are looked at as not having many skills and not being able to learn new skills. We want to show people that they do have the skills and can learn new skills and be contributing members of society.”

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