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If You Want to Serve Students,
Focus on the Adult Systems
September 26th, 2025
Over the past 25 years in education, I’ve heard the same phrase repeated over and over again…
Students first, students first, students first.
And of course, that’s true.
Every one of us came into this profession to serve kids.
We want them to learn, to grow, and to thrive.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize after years in the classroom, in leadership, and in working with schools all over the world:
The shortest path to a serving students is through highly functioning adult systems.
That may sound counterintuitive at first. But it has become clearer and clearer to me that the best way to serve students is by ensuring that the adults in the building—teachers, administrators, counselors, department chairs, coordinators, support staff—are working within systems that are structured, predictable, and collaborative.
When adult systems work, schools work.
And when schools work, students thrive.
What Do I Mean by Adult Systems?
An adult system is any structure that shapes how the adults in a school operate together.
Here are just a few examples I’ve seen make a huge difference:
A professional development program that isn’t random, but thoughtfully designed around teacher needs.
A leadership team that communicates clearly and regularly, so faculty know what’s coming next.
A discipline system that is consistent and predictable, so every student knows where the boundaries are, and we as teachers, no where the boundaries are.
A grading system that is coherent across departments, so students aren’t left wondering why expectations differ wildly from class to class.
Department heads, coordinators, and administrators who have a clear process for collaboration, rather than working in silos.
Large projects—like capstones, exhibitions, or Extended Essays—that are supported by a shared timeline, clear expectations, and aligned responsibilities.
Each of these is an adult system.
And each one, when functioning well, reduces confusion, increases trust, and creates a calmer, more consistent environment for students.
Why Adult Systems Matter
Think about it. Students experience school through the systems adults create.
When leadership communicates clearly, faculty are less anxious, which means students are less anxious.
When departments and administrators work together, students see coherence in their learning.
When teachers give consistent feedback and follow a predictable grading policy, students know what success looks like.
When discipline is fair and reliable, students feel safe.
On the other hand, when adult systems break down—when expectations are inconsistent, when communication is unclear, when decisions are made ad hoc—students feel the chaos. They live inside of it.
And here’s the key point: the quality of student life is often determined not just by what happens in the classroom, but by how well the adults outside the classroom are working together.
A Shift in Thinking
This way of thinking runs contrary to a lot of the language we hear in schools.
For years, I told myself students first meant doing something directly for students…plan the lesson, grade the work, run the club or whatever
But the longer I’ve been in education, the more I’ve realized that the best gift we can give our students is a school where adults operate within predictable, supportive systems.
When adults feel confident, clear, and aligned, students feel it too.
The Outcome
Highly functioning adult systems don’t just reduce stress for faculty (though that’s a nice benefit).
They create the conditions for students to have the kind of experience we want for them: vibrant, engaging, challenging, and supportive.
Because ultimately, that’s why we’re all here.
If you care about your school, which of course we all do, and if you want students to thrive, which of course we all do, then focus on the adult systems.
Build them thoughtfully.
Communicate them clearly.
Support them consistently.
When adult systems are strong, students thrive.
And that’s the kind of school every one of us wants to be a part of.
See you next week.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities...
Book a Custom Training for Your IB Faculty - If your school would like a tailored training on the updated Extended Essay guidelines, we’d love to help—onsite at your campus or live online—just send me an email at [email protected] and we’ll work together to make it happen.
The Cohort Model for the Extended Essay Teacher Workshop, October 4th, 2025 - The Cohort Model is a customizable approach to managing the Extended Essay, designed to meet your school’s specific context. This workshop will guide you through each step of the process, from research and reflections to assessment, offering a structured, cohesive approach that ensures student success and smooth coordination across all subjects
Effectively Supervising the New Extended Essay - November 8th, 2025 - This focused and practical workshop is designed to help teachers confidently navigate the updated Extended Essay framework for the Class of 2027. Together, we’ll explore what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how to effectively guide students through both the Subject-Focused and Interdisciplinary pathways.
Brad Cartwright
Educator | Speaker | Workshop Leader | Course Creator