Dining with Purpose: How Summit School Uses Campus Dining to Strengthen School Strategy & Campus Culture
For too long, dining services in independent and boarding schools have been viewed primarily as an operational line item — necessary, but peripheral to the mission-critical strategy. Yet today’s school leaders are recognizing a powerful truth: food is far more than fuel. When thoughtfully designed and strategically aligned, dining programs can strengthen enrollment and retention, reinforce community culture, support student wellbeing, and contribute to financial sustainability.
At Summit School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Head of School Dr. Michael Ebeling has led the charge to ensure campus dining is a highly visible, mission-aligned part of the student experience.
We connected with Dr. Ebeling to share his perspective on how dining services can move beyond transactional vendor relationships and become true strategic partnerships. Drawing from real campus case studies and leadership experience, they offer insight into what it takes to align dining with institutional priorities — from strengthening belonging and supporting students with diverse dietary needs to establishing meaningful KPIs and accountability structures.
FISD: Dr. Ebeling, thank you so much for connecting with us! Let’s jump right in. Customization is often key in independent schools. Can you tell us a little bit about the FISD-Summit relationship and how the dining program reflects Summit’s culture and the needs of its students?
Dr. Ebeling: From the beginning, we didn’t want dining to feel transactional. We wanted it to feel intentional — aligned with our mission and culture. FLIK listened carefully to what matters to us: nutrition over novelty, relationships over retail, and an experience that matches the aesthetic and ethos of our campus.
Our chef and team go table-to-table, listen to students, track what they’re actually eating, and adjust accordingly. Stations evolve because students are heard. That intersection — where metrics meet relationships — is where customization becomes meaningful to the children we’re serving. And that’s the point, isn’t it?
FISD: Summit serves students with diverse learning profiles and dietary needs. How does the dining program help create a sense of inclusion and belonging?
Dr. Ebeling: Food speaks to a fundamental need – and something that feeds not only our body but our spirit. When done well, it builds community. When done poorly, it isolates.
What I appreciate about our partnership is the normalization of food safety and dietary needs. Students with allergies or constraints aren’t separated or “othered.” They simply have lunch — safely and confidently. That requires coordination, trust, and personal relationships among the chef, nurses, and families.
Belonging isn’t theoretical. It shows up at the lunch table.
FISD: As Head of School, you’re thinking about student experience, culture, and sustainability every day. Where does dining fit into that bigger picture for you?
Dr. Ebeling: We view the dining hall as the hearth of the school. Breaking bread together is fundamentally human. It’s not “just lunch.”
When dining is treated as part of the culture — not just a service — it supports recruitment, retention, and community. Faculty share meals together. Students try foods they might not eat at home. Families experience the gift of not having to prepare lunch every day.
So yes, cost matters. But the better question is: the cost of what? You’re not just purchasing food. You’re investing in culture, convenience, safety, and connection.
FISD: This month, you’ll be joining FLIK Independent School Dining at NBOA to specifically address why this transformation is critical in today’s independent school environment. In the conversation, Beyond the Plate: Leveraging Dining Services as a Strategic Asset, what is the key mindset shift you hope school leaders walk away with?
Dr. Ebeling: I hope leaders move from thinking of dining as a line-item expense to seeing it as a strategic asset. If dining is treated transactionally, it will function transactionally. If it’s treated as mission-aligned and deeply human, it can become a differentiator in your value proposition.
The mindset shift is simple but powerful: Don’t simply ask what lunch costs — ask what you are paying for.
FISD: If a fellow Head of School asked you one question before rethinking their dining program, what would you encourage them to ask?
Dr. Ebeling: I would encourage them to ask: What role do we want food to play in our culture?
If the answer is “It’s just lunch,” then you’ll structure it one way.
If the answer is “It’s community, wellness, belonging, and care,” you’ll structure it another way.
And if you are committed to a deeply human approach to food — one that sees dining as part of your educational and relational ecosystem — then choosing the right partner becomes essential.
As independent schools navigate increasing financial pressures, evolving family expectations, and a growing focus on student wellbeing, every operational decision carries strategic weight.
Dining is no exception.
We hope this conversation sheds light on how critical it is to create a seat at the table for your dining partners. For those attending NBOA, join us at Beyond the Plate: Leveraging Dining Services as a Strategic Asset to explore how schools can transform food service into a meaningful driver of mission alignment, community engagement, and long-term value. We look forward to continuing the conversation — and reimagining what’s possible when dining is positioned not just to serve, but to lead.