About Us
At Miami Middle School, we’re all about creating an inclusive community where everyone feels respected and valued. We celebrate our differences, support each other and work together to make learning exciting and meaningful for all. Together, we build a space where every student can grow, thrive and succeed.
Coffee Depot
Seven years ago, when I first came to Miami, I created Coffee Depot to give our applied skills students real-world job experience beyond the self-contained classroom. From the start, it has been a community collaboration, launching with Starbucks donations before transitioning to local partnerships with GK Bakery, Old Crown Coffee and Utopian Coffee Roasters as student skills grew.
Since its inception, Coffee Depot has raised over $3,000, selling French press and cold brew coffee to teachers. Last year, in partnership with Dr. Sprunger and AWS, we secured a grant to upgrade our equipment, including Gaggia espresso machines, allowing students to refine their barista skills for future employment.
My 36 students take on roles as baristas, bookkeepers, marketers, servers and managers, gaining hands-on experience in health, hygiene, social interaction and money management—totaling 1,200 minutes of real-world learning per month.
What started as a small project has become a thriving program, building confidence, independence and career-ready skills for my students.
- Victor Zapari, Special Education Lead Teacher
