In this raw and honest episode, Colton Lee takes us inside the first week back at his Alternative Learning Center — a four-day whirlwind marked by new students testing limits, tech blocks adding fuel to frustration, and a chaotic parent blow-up echoing through the halls. He unpacks the harsh realities of working in a high-needs environment: a SPED caseload growing faster than prep time allows, kids gaming the system to avoid work, and teachers already drained by Thursday. And when a new hire walks out before day one even begins, Colton reflects on what it really means to stand united — and why these students need stability more than anything else.

If you've ever felt like you’re holding the building up with one hand and your sanity with the other, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we flip the script and hear directly from the ones who see it all — our students. Colton sits down with his own teenage daughter to talk about what teens really notice about teachers and adults online, how our digital lives can build or break trust, and why even students without social media still see our “shadows.” If you’ve ever wondered what your students think when they Google you — don’t miss this one.

In this episode of Holding the Line, we step outside the classroom walls and into the digital world we carry in our pockets every day. From late-night rants and “harmless” memes to privacy slips and viral screenshots, teachers today walk a line online that can make or break trust in an instant.

Colt unpacks why even good teachers slip up, shares practical habits to protect your digital reputation, and breaks down exactly how to repair the damage when a post goes too far. Real stories, real talk, and a reminder that we’re all human — but the line is worth holding strong.

Whether you’re a veteran teacher or just starting out, this hour-long episode will help you pause before you post, fix it when you mess up, and model the digital citizenship your students are watching for every day.

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