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When Systems Don’t Align: Students Fall Through the Cracks

 By Stephen C. Schultz


The heat hit me like I was catching a medicine ball in a local gym.

There was a breeze, technically. But it felt less like relief and more like someone had pointed my wife's blow dryer in my general direction. When I stepped out of the car, the temperature read 95 degrees, and the humidity seemed to whisper, "Welcome to Dallas. You're definitely not in Utah anymore."

Coming from the Intermountain West at roughly 6,000 feet above sea level, I'm accustomed to conversations about shortness of breath because of the elevation. Dallas has its own version of that experience. It took me about five minutes to realize that breathing through humidity is a skill I have yet to master.

Truth be told, I really enjoy visiting Dallas. It is a vibrant city with a rich history, wonderful people, and an unmistakable sense of energy. Every visit I've made, builds on the previous visit and gives me another reason to appreciate it. The climate simply reminds me that every part of the country has its own personality, and Dallas isn't shy about introducing itself to newcomers.

I was in town attending the 2026 ATN Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference.

One of the first people I met was Karen Mayer Cunningham.

Karen is a nationally recognized special education advocate whose work spans families, educators, and systems across the country. She is an author, trainer, and speaker, and her platform reaches a large national audience through social media and podcasting. What stood out most was not only her reach, but the intention behind it. Her work consistently focuses on helping families and professionals understand how to keep students from slipping through gaps in systems that were never designed for the level of complexity we are now seeing.

As I spent time speaking with Karen and her team (Angie Pannuti M.Ed, MPASS and Lauren Clifton M.Ed), what became clear was not just expertise, but alignment in purpose. There is a shared concern that shows up in different settings but points to the same reality. Too many students are getting lost between systems including education, mental health, behavioral supports, and family services that do not always communicate effectively with one another.

No single person or organization has all the answers. Over the years, I've found it helpful to learn from people who bring different perspectives and experiences. The following resources are ones you may find worthwhile as you continue your own journey.

If you're a parent trying to navigate the world of special education, finding a knowledgeable advocate can make a significant difference. Karen Cunningham has dedicated her career to helping families better understand their rights, communicate more effectively, and navigate the often-complex special education process. Whether you're just beginning the journey or facing ongoing challenges, you may find these resources helpful.

Special Education Academy:
https://specialeducationacademy.com/special-education-advocate/

If you would rather listen than read, this conversation offers additional insight into Karen's approach to special education advocacy and her passion for helping families. Regardless of where you are in your journey, there may be ideas here that help you ask better questions and become a more informed advocate for your child.

Watch the conversation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo6wjRgdOTY

I regularly discuss many of the above mentioned issues in my work with families who call into Oxbow Academy.

Many of the parents we work with are trying to navigate situations where their son has been removed from school or placed in an alternative setting. In many cases the student is at home or in a program attempting to serve multiple needs at once without clear integration between behavioral concerns, mental health treatment, and educational planning.

The result is often a one size fits all approach. Not because schools or districts lack care, but because the system is stretched across too many demands without enough specialization for complex student mental health presentations.


When problematic sexual behavior is part of the clinical picture, the challenge becomes even more layered. Schools are often responding with the tools they have available such as suspension or removal or alternative placement because those are the structures built into the system. PSB does not always fit neatly into those frameworks. It requires coordinated clinical, educational, and family systems working together with clarity and precision.

There is no simple answer here. And pretending there is only adds confusion for families and schools.

What I appreciated in conversations with Karen and her team was not that we tended to agree on every detail, but a shared orientation toward a central question.

"How do we keep students from falling through the cracks of systems that were never designed for this level of complexity?"

That question matters. And it requires collaboration across disciplines rather than hunkering down in our respective silos.

If you would like to learn more about Karen and her work supporting families and educators across the country, I encourage you to explore her resources and connect with her team. Their focus is practical, accessible, and grounded in helping families find clarity in systems that often feel anything but clear.

If you would like to learn more about Oxbow Academy, I have included several recent articles from The Interpreted Rock below.

Featured Articles from The Interpreted Rock

These articles explore how families and systems navigate complexity when a young person is struggling in ways that do not fit neatly into standard categories.

Understanding PSB and Treatment Decision Making

10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Treatment for a Teen with Problematic Sexual Behavior PSB
Read article

The Value of Oxbow Academy’s Evaluation Process
Read article

Understanding Data, Meaning, and Clinical Reality

Beyond Measurement When Data Meets Real Life
Read article

The Truth We Avoid Is Often the Treatment We Need
Read article

Your Child Is More Than Their Worst Moment
Read article

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