I interviewed a kindergarten teacher about the role that teacher's play in helping the nutritional and physical needs of students be met. This teacher was a strong believer in the idea that children will not, or can not, learn until their most basic needs are taken care of. Because she had several students over her years of teaching frequently came to school without their basic needs having been met, this teacher learned to be prepared for such circumstances. An expert from the interview I did is shared here.
When asked what teachers can do to meets the needs of their students to keep them healthy and safe, this teacher said the following:
One of my required tasks in Senior Practicum was to "find [and read] district level policies and procedures on student nutrition, health, and safety." Completing this assignment helped me understand what health and safety looks like for a group instead of a single person. As a future teacher, I am ready to educate myself on my districts policies and procedures of nutrition, health, and safety, and make sure that my classroom aligns with those policies and procedures of the district.
For the particular district that I was placed in for Senior Practicum, all this information was available on the district website.