In this episode of Ask Me Anything, Heather, Cass, and Flora get honest about what it really means to reshape education from the inside out. They talk about what it takes to stay mission-driven while navigating complex systems that don’t always work for every student. Heather shares how her passion for meeting individual needs drives her work, and Cass brings insight into why flexible thinking matters more than rigid models. From challenging assumptions to honoring the strengths of outliers, this conversation invites listeners to imagine a more responsive, and more human, approach to education.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

Go behind the scenes with Flora, Matthew, and Heather in this episode of the Ask Me Anything series, where the team pulls back the curtain on what really makes TLC tick. From juggling big-picture goals to responding in real-time to school needs, the trio shares how they keep things moving when the weeks get messy. Heather walks through how she balances leadership and direct service, and how TLC stays grounded in community while pushing ideas forward. It’s an honest look at what it takes to lead an educational organization with purpose—and keep showing up for the people who count on you.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode of the summer “Ask Me Anything” series, Flora sits down with Matthew and Heather to dig deeper into the vision, core values, and practical philosophy behind TLC’s work. Heather shares personal reflections on the importance of culture, boundaries, care, and humility when supporting both students and staff. Through stories and candid conversation, the episode explores how TLC evolved beyond behavior consulting into a values-driven community that supports districts, educators, and students in deeply human ways.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode of Little Bits of TLC’s Ask Me Anything series, Flora Yao and Cass O’Hara sit down with Heather Volchko to unpack who TLC really serves—from the complex, high-incidence students who don’t fit into typical boxes to the school staff who show up for them every day. Heather shares how TLC’s flexible support model evolved by listening deeply to the real needs of districts and creatively adapting rather than sticking to a rigid formula. They also explore how the team grew by recognizing when Heather had reached her limit and bringing in others with lived experience to continue the work. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how values like humility, responsiveness, and partnership drive every layer of TLC’s mission.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this second episode of Little Bits of TLC’s Ask Me Anything series, host Flora Yao and co-host Cass O’Hara dig deep into the early experiences and defining moments that shaped Heather's career. From skipping AP classes to spend time in a special ed classroom, to discovering her passion for emotional and behavioral work in a juvenile hall, Heather traces her path through layered educational experiences, multiple advanced degrees, and a non-linear trajectory that led her to build TLC. With stories of misfit teams, green-yellow-red calendars, and failed doors that led to better ones, this episode is a raw and honest reflection on how staying human-centered and forward-moving can shape an entire career.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this special kickoff to our summer “Ask Me Anything” series, Flora, Matthew, and Heather sit down to talk about how Threshold Learning Collective got its start—and how it turned from a one-woman consulting effort into a fast-growing nonprofit supporting schools around the country.

Heather opens up about the people who nudged her toward this path, the fears and surprises of starting a business, and the values that have shaped TLC from day one. From naming mishaps to unexpected pivots, this episode gives listeners an honest look at the early days of TLC, the leap into entrepreneurship, and the mission that keeps the team grounded as they grow.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather talks with Alex—a new teacher and former writing center tutor—about how feedback becomes one of the most powerful tools in the classroom. They explore what makes feedback truly effective: it’s not just about praise or correction, but about giving students clear, specific information they can use to grow.

Alex shares how meaningful feedback supports independence, builds confidence, and helps students learn to reflect on their own progress. From real-time conversations to video recordings and verbal walkthroughs, they highlight small shifts that make a big difference in how students hear, understand, and act on feedback. Whether you're teaching writing, behavior, or life skills, this episode reminds us that good feedback isn’t just about what we say—it’s about how it helps students take the next step.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather and Marla unpack what it really means to help students keep using what they’ve learned—across settings, with new people, and long after instruction ends. They talk about the difference between practicing a skill and actually owning it, and why independence is the real marker of success.

Marla shares everyday examples and classroom takeaways that help clarify what it looks like when a student has truly generalized a skill versus when the adults are unintentionally maintaining it for them. Together, they reflect on the importance of fading supports, planning for independence, and being honest about what kind of progress is actually happening.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, Heather and Manny break down what intensive instruction actually means—beyond smaller groups or different settings. They discuss how real intensity comes from tailoring instruction to what each student truly needs, not just reteaching the same thing in a quieter room.

Manny shares stories from self-contained and alternative classrooms where individualized strategies, responsive feedback, and team-based planning made all the difference. Together, they push back on the idea that intensity equals more of the same—and instead highlight how being targeted, flexible, and collaborative leads to real learning and growth.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, we explore how educators can adapt curriculum materials and tasks to meet diverse learning goals. Erin shares practical strategies drawn from Universal Design for Learning, from small tweaks to fully differentiated options, and highlights how adaptations can support both struggling and advanced learners. We discuss balancing required curriculum with creative flexibility, leveraging tools like graphic organizers and guided notes, and using student choice to boost engagement. This conversation reframes adaptations as dynamic, responsive, and essential for helping every student access and demonstrate learning.

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 Newsletter

Stay updated with our latest episodes and receive exclusive content every week. Sign up now!

Follow Us on Social Media

Connect 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 Podcast

Enjoyed today’s episode? Share it with friends and never miss an episode on your favorite platform: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!

Support Our Mission

Love what you hear? Support our efforts to empower local schools to support complex youth. Visit TLC Nonprofit to learn more.

Send Us Your Feedback

Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Reach out to us at [email protected] — we’d love to hear from you!