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.

To comment or share your story email me at: holdingtheline25@gmail.com

In this raw, unfiltered hour, we crack open the real unwritten rules of the Alternative Learning Center — the messy truths you won’t find in a teacher handbook. From silent agreements to survival humor, meltdown moments to the weight you can’t carry home, this episode is your after-hours debrief for the trenches.
Grab your gas station coffee, take a breath, and remember: you’re not alone. Israel, Slovenia, Hong Kong, small-town USA — we’re all holding the line together.

What happens when you return to the district you loved — the one where you student taught, the one that felt like home — only to be thrown into a job with no training, no access, and no support? In this raw and honest episode, I share the story of being set up to fail as a new SPED teacher, punished for being resourceful, and pushed out for asking the very questions he should’ve been encouraged to ask.

This one’s for every new teacher navigating a broken system, for the ones quietly struggling behind closed doors, and for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Is it me… or is this whole setup backwards?”

Real talk, hard truths, and a reminder: you’re not the problem.

Episode 2: Creed, Chaos, and Connection
In Episode 2 of The ALC Underworld, Colt Lee dives into the backbone of every alternative school teacher: the ALC Teacher’s Creed. He breaks down why having your own code matters when the job asks for grit, patience, and showing up on the toughest days. This episode also drops a practical tactical tip you can use tomorrow and explores what it really means to build trust when chaos hits. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay steady—and human—in an unpredictable classroom, this one’s for you.

Step into the chaos, compassion, and controlled mayhem of the Alternative Learning Center—where the desks wobble, the drama’s daily, and hope shows up in steel-toed boots and sarcasm.

In this first episode, Colt Lee (veteran, educator, and chaos coordinator) kicks off Holding the Line with stories from the front lines of the ALC—where teaching meets triage, and relationships are your best classroom management strategy.

From flipped classrooms to ceiling-dwelling baby dolls, we dive into what it really takes to reach students who’ve been written off by the system—and why they’re worth every wild moment.

We want to hear your battle stories- send them to holdthelineALC25@gmail.com