Miramonte High School Essential Skills teacher Asia Becker leads her students through a lesson on creating their own business logos – part of the school’s Matadogs program, a student-run enterprise where teens bake, package and sell homemade dog treats while learning vocational, communication and independent living skills.
At Miramonte High School, a group of students is learning much more than academics. Through an innovative classroom business called Matadogs, students in the school’s Essential Skills program are baking up confidence, independence and community connection – one dog treat at a time.
Miramonte Essential Skills teacher Asia Becker teaches the moderate to severe special education students who have been working on this program.
“It’s a student-run business where they create, package and sell homemade dog treats,” she said.
The Concord resident, in her second year teaching at Miramonte, said this is also the second year of the Matadogs program.
“Matadogs is much more than a classroom project – it’s a hands-on learning experience that empowers our students to develop vocational, communication and independent living skills,” she said. “From budgeting and production to marketing and customer service, our students are involved in every step of the process.”
The idea for Matadogs grew from Miramonte’s Workability program, which gives juniors and seniors hands-on work experience at HomeGoods once a week.
“I wanted to create a way for all students – regardless of ability – to develop vocational skills right on campus,” Becker said. “More importantly, I wanted something they could truly call their own, giving them a sense of pride and ownership. Matadogs was born as an inclusive, hands-on project that empowers every student, while teaching real-world skills.”
Becker said the lessons connect to California state standards and integrate directly with core academic instruction.
“Academically, they practice core subjects such as math and ELA (English Language Arts) with every lesson in the month-long unit connected to California state standards,” she said. “Vocationally, they learn planning, organization and basic business skills like budgeting, measuring ingredients and following production steps.”
Outside the classroom, she added, “students build teamwork, communication, problem-solving and responsibility – skills that prepare them for real-world work environments. Beyond practical skills, they also gain confidence and a sense of pride as they take ownership of a project that is truly theirs.”
The process itself takes students from concept to customer.
“The Matadogs process starts with students planning their dog treats, which includes identifying and organizing the ingredients and supplies they’ll need,” Becker said. “They then budget for their project and apply basic math skills to calculate quantities and costs. Next, students mix and bake the treats, practicing organization, following directions and hands-on production skills.”
Once baked, students take on design and marketing. She said after baking, they design and assemble the packaging, considering labeling and presentation.
“Finally, students sell their treats, practicing customer service, communication and handling transactions,” she added.
The program is also woven into the students’ daily learning.
“Our Essential Skills students take core classes like math and English with me, and we integrate Matadogs directly into those lessons,” she said. “For example, they might practice budgeting during math or conduct marketing research during English.”
Becker stressed how each lesson is purposeful, where each daily lesson also connects to the students’ individual IEP goals.
“It ensures that academic, vocational and personal growth all happen together,” she said. “This approach allows students to build real-world skills while reinforcing classroom learning in a meaningful, hands-on way.”
So far, Matadogs has been a big hit on campus.
“Last year, students, families and campus staff really showed up to support us on sale days, and it was exciting to see the pride and enthusiasm from everyone involved,” Becker said. “Most sales were limited to students and families, but we hope to expand in the future and open sales’ days to the greater community, giving even more people a chance to support our students and their hard work.”
Miramonte students say the project has been fun and fulfilling.
“Making the dog treats, baking and processing,” said senior Cindy Tristram, describing what she enjoys most about Matadogs. “Team building, connecting with other people and being able to help my classmates make the dog treats.”
She said it’s also helped her gain confidence and independence by, “helping me make dog treats for my own dogs.”
Tristram said the program has helped her grow personally, too.
Junior Andrew Beagle said baking is his favorite part, especially with his friend, sophomore Simon Keenan.
“It makes me happy,” said Beagle, who plans to become a police officer when he grows up.
Keenan shared that Matadogs has helped him meet new people and gain confidence.
“I think that it’s great, it makes me feel great,” he said. “I love that it makes other people feel great.”
Building new friendships and job-building skills seems to be part of the recipe for Keenan too.
“What I learned was [getting] to know people like my friend Andrew,” said Keenan, who also wants to become a police officer. “And when I do sales, I get to meet new people – which gives me more confidence to get into that job.”
For Becker, the joy comes from seeing her students shine.
“We would love the opportunity to highlight this project for the community and celebrate our students’ hard work, creativity and dedication,” she said. “I believe our students are building real-world skills and confidence through meaningful, practical learning experiences.”
The Matadogs crew will be selling their homemade dog treats (in the bus circle next to the cafeteria, in front of the book room) Dec. 16 to 19, before and after school to those who want to treat their fur babies – and help out an innovative Miramonte program.
