Data in schools can feel like a weapon or a waste of time, especially when it touches student behavior. Ed tech founder Julian Golder, co-founder of Emote Education, joins Heather to reframe classroom and systems data collection as something that protects kids and staff instead of scrutinizing them. They talk about why data conversations put practitioners on the defensive, how baking data directly into daily practice changes that dynamic, and why behavior can't be read outside of context.You'll hear how one school traced a spike in office referrals back to snowplowed-in recess yards in about thirty seconds of looking at the right data, and walk away with a simple sticky-note exercise for noticing what your own data isn't showing you yet.Full transcript and Show Notes and Companion blogFund this work. The services Heather talked about in this episode are provided by TLC Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at a reduced cost to public school districts. Your gift sustains these opportunities. Donate at https://www.tlcnonprofit.co/founding-donorsGet the newsletter. One email, every Sunday — Heather’s take, an industry update, resources you can actually use, and first look at TLC University offerings and events. https://university.thresholdlearning.org/pages/home#connect Tell us what you think. Have questions about what you just heard or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to [email protected] We read every one and love to hear from you!Follow us. Never miss an episode on your favorite platform:InstagramTikTok ThreadsYouTubeLinkedInFacebookSpotifyApple Podcasts

This episode unpacks co-regulation — the idea that a calm (or dysregulated) adult nervous system shapes how students respond, especially in special education, EBD programs, and any space with big feelings. Licensed clinical counselor Jon Barberio and Heather talk about what co-regulation looks like in real time, how adults "lend" their nervous system to kids, and why staying present matters more than having the perfect script.You'll hear a simple, one-moment check-in practice you can use today, even if your day is bouncing from one crisis to the next.Full transcript and Show Notes and Companion blogFund this work. The services Heather talked about in this episode are provided by TLC Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at a reduced cost to public school districts. Your gift sustains these opportunities. Donate at https://www.tlcnonprofit.co/founding-donorsGet the newsletter. One email, every Sunday — Heather’s take, an industry update, resources you can actually use, and first look at TLC University offerings and events. https://university.thresholdlearning.org/pages/home#connect Tell us what you think. Have questions about what you just heard or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to [email protected] We read every one and love to hear from you!Follow us. Never miss an episode on your favorite platform:InstagramTikTok ThreadsYouTubeLinkedInFacebookSpotifyApple Podcasts

This episode digs into what effective teachers and special educators do in the first 10 days to build classroom management, routines, and relationships that last all year. Coaching coordinator Ann Potter and Heather talk about intentionally building relationships, demonstrating consistency in interactions, establishing the expectation to learn, and what not to worry about yet.You'll hear practical, low-prep ways to make these early days predictable for everyone in your room, including yourself.Full transcript and Show Notes and Companion blogFund this work. The services Heather talked about in this episode are provided by TLC Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at a reduced cost to public school districts. Your gift sustains these opportunities. Donate at https://www.tlcnonprofit.co/founding-donorsGet the newsletter. One email, every Sunday — Heather’s take, an industry update, resources you can actually use, and first look at TLC University offerings and events. https://university.thresholdlearning.org/pages/home#connect Tell us what you think. Have questions about what you just heard or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to [email protected] We read every one and love to hear from you!Follow us. Never miss an episode on your favorite platform:InstagramTikTok ThreadsYouTubeLinkedInFacebookSpotifyApple Podcasts

For teachers, paras, and specialists heading into a new school year already tired, this episode explores what it means to start from reality instead of from perfection. I talk about setting a baseline for your classroom, your caseload, and your own capacity, and how to decide what actually matters in the first few weeks. You’ll leave with simple, realistic ways to build strong foundations for student behavior and learning without pretending you’re a brand-new person each August.Full transcript and Show Notes and Companion blogFund this work. The services Heather talked about in this episode are provided by TLC Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at a reduced cost to public school districts. Your gift sustains these opportunities. Donate at https://www.tlcnonprofit.co/founding-donorsGet the newsletter. One email, every Sunday — Heather’s take, an industry update, resources you can actually use, and first look at TLC University offerings and events. https://university.thresholdlearning.org/pages/home#connect Tell us what you think. Have questions about what you just heard or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to [email protected] We read every one and love to hear from you!Follow us. Never miss an episode on your favorite platform:InstagramTikTok ThreadsYouTubeLinkedInFacebookSpotifyApple Podcasts

[Episode description]Full transcript and Show NotesFund this work. The services Heather talked about in this episode are provided by TLC Nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, at a reduced cost to public school districts. Your gift sustains these opportunities. Donate at https://www.tlcnonprofit.co/founding-donorsGet the newsletter. One email, every Sunday — Heather’s take, an industry update, resources you can actually use, and first look at TLC University offerings and events. https://university.thresholdlearning.org/pages/home#connect Tell us what you think. Have questions about what you just heard or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to [email protected] We read every one and love to hear from you!Follow us. Never miss an episode on your favorite platform:InstagramTikTok ThreadsYouTubeLinkedInFacebookSpotifyApple Podcasts

Kotter’s seventh step is sustaining acceleration by pressing harder after first successes and using growing credibility to improve systems, structures, and policies until the vision becomes reality. In schools, that means using early wins as a launchpad rather than a finish line, while managing coherence and capacity carefully.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Kotter’s sixth step is generating short-term wins: early results that are recognized, collected, and communicated often enough to track progress and energize people to persist. In schools, those wins should be mixed-methods by design, pairing something measurable with something experiential.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Kotter’s fifth step is enabling action by removing barriers: clearing obstacles that slow progress or create roadblocks so people can innovate and work more nimbly. In schools, that means removing schedule barriers, process burdens, unclear roles, policy conflicts, data friction, and cultural fear that keep the new system from fitting into the day.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Kotter’s fourth step is enlisting a volunteer army: creating the conditions for large numbers of people to rally around a common opportunity and want to contribute. In schools, that does not mean unpaid extra labor; it means giving staff supported, meaningful roles inside the workday for the change effort.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Kotter’s third step is to form a strategic vision by clarifying how the future will be different from the past and linking that future to specific initiatives. In schools, a strong vision helps educators picture how student support and staff work will feel different in classrooms, offices, hallways, and meetings.Explore More with Us inside The TLC Network!Learn more in this episode’s show notes and join a vibrant community of behavior-focused school professionals committed to their professional growth.Join Our NewsletterStay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!Follow Us on Social MediaConnect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for weekly updates and behind-the-scenes content. Tag us @thresholdlearningtlc to engage with us across all platforms!Subscribe to Our PodcastEnjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!Support Our MissionLove what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.Send Us Your FeedbackHave questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!