Albuquerque Public Schools
Serving Smiles Every Day
Bandelier Elementary Cafeteria Manager Shawn Gallahue brings decades of dedication to school nutrition.
For Bandelier Elementary Cafeteria Manager Shawn Gallahue, school nutrition is more than a job. It is a lifelong calling.
His journey began more than three decades ago when he worked as a student cafeteria worker from 1988 to 1990. Even then, he recognized the importance of the role school nutrition programs play in supporting students.
"Even at that early stage, I developed a strong appreciation for how important school meals are," Gallahue said.
Over the years, he built experience working in school kitchens and even serving meals at a sixth-grade camp where feeding large groups of students required organization, flexibility and teamwork. Since 2017, he has served as a cafeteria manager, overseeing daily operations while ensuring students receive nutritious meals in a welcoming environment.
At Bandelier, Gallahue's day starts early.
"I come in about 6:30 in the morning," he said. "I open up the kitchen, get the paperwork done, and start setting up breakfast and prepping for the next day."
From there, the kitchen quickly becomes a team effort. His cook arrives to begin preparing lunch, while another staff member joins later to help keep operations running smoothly. Gallahue jumps in wherever he is needed, whether that means preparing sack lunches for field trips, unloading the weekly food delivery, washing dishes or helping serve students.
But the part of the job he enjoys most is the people.
"The kids are great," he said. "And the teachers are great too."
Serving hundreds of students each day has helped him build relationships throughout the school. He gets to know students by name and looks forward to seeing them in the lunch line.
"I can just look down the line and recognize them," he said proudly.
Gallahue also keeps a close eye out for students with food allergies. He completes annual training on food protection and allergens, and makes sure students who need substitutions receive them safely.
While the work can be busy and sometimes challenging, Gallahue says he keeps his focus on the bigger picture.
"If the kids don't eat, the kids don't learn," he said.
His dedication has not gone unnoticed.
Bandelier fourth-grade teacher Christine Laffler says Gallahue makes a difference for the entire school community.
"Our Cafeteria Manager Shawn Gallahue is kind, wonderful and hardworking," Laffler said. "He is always accommodating, has a smile on his face every day, is a wonderful team leader, and works super hard to ensure our students have the best and healthiest meals possible. He is seriously the sweetest, most hardworking cafeteria manager I've met in my 22 years of teaching."
From his early days as a student worker to leading a school kitchen today, Gallahue's career reflects a simple but powerful mission: helping students thrive.
And every morning when the Bandelier kitchen lights turn on, he gets another chance to do just that.