BEYOND THE CAFETERIA
BUILDING CULTURE THROUGH CONNECTION
S chool food service is a lot like the kitchen table. That’s how I’ve always thought about the school cafeteria—or dining room, depending on your pref- erence. It’s more than a place where meals are served. It’s one of the few spaces in a school where the entire community intersects every single day. If you pause for a moment and real- ly observe, you can feel it. Listen. Watch. Understand the rhythm. Is it a formal and structured environ- ment where students quietly move through the line? Is it social and col- laborative, full of conversation and positive energy? Or is the space under stress—perhaps it’s a test- ing day, staffing is short, bull horns are being used or something else is weighing on the moment? It’s not much different than gathering around a table with family or friends. Every table has its own dynamic, its own pulse. And that’s where the work begins. Understanding the Culture First If you want to think beyond the cafe- teria, you first have to understand
the culture that already exists with- in it—and the culture you hope to create. Culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s shaped through con- sistency, relationships, visibility, and intentional decisions both inside and outside the dining room. During my time with New York City Public Schools, we learned quickly that operational changes alone do not transform a program—people and culture do. When we introduced initiatives like salad bars in every school, whole grain transitions, self-service lines and scratch-style menu improvements, success didn’t come from equipment purchases, recipes, or training alone. Success came from how students experi- enced those changes in the dining space. Were they invited to explore? Were they comfortable trying some- thing new? Did the environment feel welcoming? The tone set in that space extends far beyond the dining room walls. It influences how students feel about food, about school, and even about themselves. The cafeteria is a mirror. It reflects what’s happening across
the building and often reveals things before they surface anywhere else. If you pay attention, you can sense what students are experiencing, what staff may be carrying emotion- ally, and where opportunities exist to provide better support and stronger connection throughout the school campus. Follow the Pulse of the School To truly think beyond the cafeteria, you have to physically and intention- ally step outside of it. What’s happening in classrooms? What conversations are students having? Are you building relationships with teachers, counselors, coaches, af- ter-school staff, and families? Some of the most meaningful prog- ress we experienced in New York City came when cafeteria initiatives aligned with classroom learning and broader school culture. Through partnerships with outside organ- izations, food education extended beyond the serving line and into classrooms, gardens, after-school programs, and community events.
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