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PODCAST

The Purple Zone

Welcome to The Purple Zone (formerly Our Kids Our Schools).Bridging the Gap between Public Policy, Practice & People.The Purple Zone explores what it really means to align how we govern, how we educate, and how we show up for our communities.Hosted by Alexis — a PhD student in public policy and administration, and longtime educator and advocate for kids, communities, and the systems that shape our lives. This podcast connects the dots between policy and practice, without the politics or

government social sciences

All Episodes

63:43

The Anatomy of a School Bond Proposal

The Purple Zone ·

2025/03/25

Send us a text BONUS EPISODE! We welcome Jake Dempsey, a dedicated school board trustee for the Middleton School District. Jake joins us to discuss Middleton's efforts to pass a critical school bond in the upcoming May election — a feat that requires a supermajority of 66.67% voter approval, a notably high threshold to meet in Idaho. This won't be Middleton’s first attempt, but this time the school board approached the proposal differently, revising it based on community feedback to ensure th...

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59:14

Building Community Through Education: Insights from...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/03/18

Send us a text Alexis sat down with Lance Hansen, the Superintendent of the Year, from Lewiston School District #1. Lewiston is a community known for its collaborative spirit, and the school district plays a key role in this dynamic. Recently, Lance and the Vice President of the Lewiston School Board presented to the Senate Education Committee during the Idaho School Boards Association Day on the Hill. In their presentation, Lance shared the unique features of the district and school board, h...

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89:02

Middleton Superintendent's Take: School Bond,...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/03/05

Send us a text Dr. Marc Gee, Superintendent of Middleton School District, sits down with Alexis to dive into the important role of a superintendent and how Middleton is working to support its school community. In this conversation, Dr. Gee provides an in-depth look at the district’s upcoming bond request on the May 20th, 2025 ballot. He breaks down the details of the proposal, explaining what’s at stake and how it will impact the future of Middleton schools. Learn how the district has engaged...

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63:24

Professional Learning Communities: Boosting Student...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/02/18

Send us a text Have you heard of PLCs? These Professional Learning Communities are transforming education by improving student outcomes, enhancing teaching experiences, and fostering stronger school cultures. In this episode, Alexis sits down with Emalee Merell, Coordinator of Professional Learning Community and Tiered System of Supports from the Idaho Department of Education, to explore how Idaho schools are successfully integrating the PLC model. Join us as we discuss the fundamentals...

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69:39

MORE Talk, Measured Action: Social Media Event,...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/02/04

Send us a text Alexis sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, to discuss three critical topics impacting education in Idaho. First, they dive into the upcoming More Social Less Media Event—an opportunity for teenagers, parents, teachers, district administration, lawmakers, and school community members to come together on Saturday, April 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Eagle High School. Featuring a keynote from Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes, plus talks from Dr. Megan Smith of B...

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70:31

Homeschooling in Idaho: Audra Talley on the Benefits,...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/01/21

Send us a textAlexis is joined by Audra Talley, board member of Homeschool Idaho, a homeschool parent, and a passionate advocate for educational choice. Together, they dive into the rich history of homeschooling in Idaho, the good and the ugly, exploring the state's unique approach to this educational model.DID You Know? Idaho has 9 school choice options...and homeschooling is one of those choices. Audra shares insights on the benefits and challenges of homeschooling, shedding light on h...

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87:17

Revamping Idaho's Grad Requirements: Digital Literacy...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/01/07

Send us a text Alexis welcomes Greg Wilson, Chief of Staff for Superintendent Debbie Critchfield of the Idaho Department of Education, to discuss the proposed changes to high school graduation requirements in Idaho. The conversation revolves around the process and rationale for these updates, which include replacing the speech credit with a digital literacy requirement. Greg outlines the procedure for implementing the changes, starting with a proposal from the Department of Education, ap...

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60:36

Addressing Youth Mental Health: Creating Upstream...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/12/03

Send us a textJoin Alexis as she sits down with Dr. Megan Smith, Associate Professor in the School of Public and Population Health at Boise State University and Executive Director for Communities for Youth. Together, they explore the mission of Communities for Youth, which is to empower communities in promoting youth well-being. By taking an upstream prevention approach to youth mental health, Communities for Youth collaborates with communities to identify and address risk and protective fact...

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90:50

Investing in Idaho's School Communities with Jackie...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/11/19

Send us a textIn this episode, Alexis sits down with Jackie Yarbrough, Senior Program Officer of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health, to explore how this unique foundation is transforming school communities across Idaho. While it may not seem typical for a health insurance company foundation to be involved in education, the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation is deeply committed to improving the health and wellbeing of local communities through strategic investments. Jackie, a passionate...

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89:36

Principal Power: How Middleton High is getting a...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/11/05

Send us a textIn this episode, Alexis sits down with Johnny Hullinger, the dynamic principal at Middleton High School, who is now embarking on his second year of leadership. Born and raised in Weiser, Idaho, Johnny embodies the Idaho ethos of strong community connection from the very start of his tenure. With a focused mission to enhance school culture, he has brought together a diverse group of voices—including teachers, coaches, and parents—to collaboratively address school policies and fos...

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72:34

The New Idaho Tech Bill and the More Social Less...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/10/29

Send us a textSpecial BONUS Episode: Alexis dives into two pivotal concepts that are shaping the future of education in Idaho. First, she discusses the groundbreaking Tech Bill that has been gaining robust support statewide. Guest Matt Todd, known for hosting The Ranch podcast, authored this impactful legislation aimed at revolutionizing tech education to parents across every district and school in Idaho. But that's not all—Alexis unveils exciting news about the "Our Kids Our Schools" p...

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66:20

Navigating Tragedy with Action: A Talk with the...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/10/15

Send us a textIn this eye-opening conversation, Alexis is joined by Tara Coffland and Kim Washington, founding members of the YouMeWeAll Boise (Youth Mental Wellness Alliance). This inspiring group was established after the heart-wrenching loss of four students to suicide within just one month (in 2023) in the Boise School District. Driven by their deep concern for the wellbeing of their children and community, these parents asked themselves what could be done to improve the lives of Boise's ...

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71:23

Leadership in Action: Norm Stewart's insights on the...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/10/01

Send us a textJoin me for an inspiring conversation with Norm Stewart, the superintendent of the Marsing School District, as he discusses the successful implementation of the Community School Strategy in his district. Collaborating closely with the school board, Norm has witnessed firsthand the positive effects of this model on the school community. In this episode, he opens up about his personal connection to the work and shares valuable insights for introducing new programs in any district....

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101:43

Heartbeat of Music Education in Idaho with Mr. TJ...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/09/17

Send us a text Join Alexis as the interviews T.J. Eriksen, Band Director at Eagle High School, as they dive into the vibrant world of music education in Idaho! T.J. is an inspiring band teacher who has transformed the music program into one of the finest in the state. We'll explore the joys and challenges of being a music educator in 2024. Get ready to uncover the secrets behind building an exceptional band program, the time commitments that come with the territory, and the vital role th...

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72:08

Facing the Future: Funding, Attendance, and Teacher...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/09/03

Send us a textAlexis sits down with Debbie Critchfield, the Superintendent of Public Instruction for Idaho, to explore what she is doing in her pivotal role in shaping the state’s education landscape. As the primary education leader, Debbie delves into her four key priorities which surround the ideas of: improving student literacy and math skills, expanding college and career readiness, improving teacher experiences in both the classroom and parent interaction, and fostering safe and supporti...

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75:54

Buses to Books: West Ada Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/08/20

Send us a Text Message.In the exciting season opener, host Alexis Morgan sits down with Dr. Derek Bub, the superintendent of the West Ada School District, the largest district in Idaho, serving nearly 40,000 students. This engaging conversation covers essential topics relevant for parents and staff, providing behind-the-scenes insights into the district's goals for the upcoming year, significant data sharing, and key initiatives aimed at enhancing student success. Listeners can expect to hear...

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69:16

Kids, Conversations, and the Future: Highlight Reel...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/07/02

Send us a Text Message.Join us for the season finale as Alexis sits down with her friend and producer, Matt, to reflect on an incredible first season. In this episode, Alexis shares six profound takeaways from this journey, fittingly concluding the season with insights from the past year, echoing the takeaways presented at the end of each episode.Highlights include:The necessity of conversations that Our Kids Our Schools brings to light, filling a crucial gap in statewide discourse.A recurrin...

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109:22

Navigating Tough Choices: The Impact of Caldwell...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/06/18

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Alexis sits down with Marisela Pesina, the School Board Chairwoman for the Caldwell School District, to explore her journey from being the daughter of migrant workers to becoming a powerful advocate for her community. Marisela speaks about how she discovered her voice and turned it into a force for change, translating personal challenges into dedicated advocacy. The conversation delves into the tough decisions faced by the school board, including naviga...

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50:31

Creating Bright Futures for Kids under 5

The Purple Zone ·

2024/06/04

Join Alexis in an enlightening conversation with Nicole Criner, the Director of External Relations and Development at the Idaho Association for Education of Young Children (ID AEYC), an organization that has been dedicated to supporting early childhood development for over 25 years. Founded by educators with a mission to help parents and families engage with children aged five and under, ID AEYC provides an abundance of free resources across the state. In this episode, Alexis and Nicole discuss the

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77:29

Tackling Social Media's Effects on Gen Z: Insights...

The Purple Zone ·

2024/05/21

This week on the Our Kids Our Schools podcast, you get a PART 1 and PART 2, and you've made it to part 2. This episode is jammed packed full of what parents, school teachers and administrators, tech companies, and lawmakers can do to help with combating the impacts of the social media and technology on Gen Z. ...and the acknowledgement that IF we don't address this now...this will also impact Gen Alpha.Gen Z = those born between 1997-2012Gen Alpha = 2013-presentFor the episode, Alexis welcomes back

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