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Diamond Ranchs Panther Cafe wins Golden Bell nod; district hears student vocational program update
Summary
Diamond Ranch High School staff presented Panther Cafe, a student-run coffee program providing vocational and CTE pathway experiences, and the program was highlighted during the Golden Bell Award segment of the meeting.
Diamond Ranch High School staff and students presented Panther Cafe, a student-run coffee and job-readiness program, during the Pomona Unified School District board meeting on June 25, 2025, as part of a Golden Bell Award presentation.
Matthew Meisel described how the program began as a classroom coffee cart and evolved into a school club and an emerging Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway. "Panther Cafe started as a coffee cart ... It started out really as a life skills thing," Meisel said, explaining that the program moved into academic and vocational instruction including public speaking, program planning and job-readiness tasks. He said students now operate commercial equipment on a repurposed staff lounge and conduct deliveries across campus, with more than 30 Friday deliveries currently.
Meisel credited staff, the CTE program and donations from a local roaster (identified in the presentation as Moster Coffee) for helping the program procure beans and equipment. The staff noted Panther Cafe expects to join a CTE pathway next school year and offer inclusive classes that provide credit for special education and general education students.
Trustees praised the program and its inclusive vocational opportunities; Dr. Perlman noted Meisel was named teacher of the year and complimented the students work. No formal board action was required for the presentation; it was delivered as an informational Golden Bell segment and public acknowledgment.
