What Cafeterias Can Teach Us About School Safety
- Mar 12
- 1 min read
When we think about school safety, the cafeteria isn’t usually the first place that comes to mind. But maybe it should be.
In this episode of The Sound Off on School Safety, Michele Gay speaks with Patti Montague, CEO, and Liz Campbell, VP of Government Affairs and Media Relations at the School Nutrition Association, about the critical — and often overlooked — role school nutrition professionals play in prevention, connection, and early identification.
Patti brings a national leadership perspective on the school nutrition workforce, highlighting how the adults serving meals each day often build some of the most consistent and trusted relationships students experience at school. Liz adds insight into how everyday interactions in the cafeteria can become meaningful opportunities to notice subtle shifts in behavior, provide reassurance, and create predictable spaces where students feel seen and supported.
Together, they explore how nutrition teams contribute to prevention, why these daily touchpoints are foundational to a strong safety culture, and what school leaders can do to more intentionally include nutrition staff in safety strategy.
Watch the full episode below:
Comments