What Cafeterias Can Teach Us About School Safety with Patti Montague and Liz Campbell
From The Sound Off On School Safety by Safe and Sound Schools
March 5, 2026 · 50 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the important role of school nutrition professionals in enhancing school safety through relationships and prevention strategies.
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 and connection. The adults serving meals each day are also building trusted relationships, noticing subtle changes in behavior, and creating predictable, caring environments where students feel seen and supported. That daily presence matters more than many schools realize. How nutrition teams contribute to prevention and early identification Why everyday interactions are foundational to safety culture What leaders can do to better include nutrition staff in safety strategy How to empower teams without adding unrealistic expectations Guest Links: Patti Montague: SNA: https://schoolnutrition.org/person/patricia-montague-fasae-cae/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patti-montague-fasae-cae-2275ba2/ Liz Campbell: SNA…
People in this episode
Host: Michele Gay
Guests: Patti Montague, Liz Campbell
Topics covered
- school safety
- nutrition professionals
- relationship building
- prevention
- safety culture
Keywords
- school safety
- cafeteria
- nutrition
- relationships
- prevention
- safety culture
- school environment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: School Nutrition Association
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