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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

19:38

A Five-Year Grant Promise Cut Short: What’s Happening...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/12/17

Send us a text Last Friday, Idaho school and community leaders were notified that a major federal education grant already awarded and already supporting students is being cut short. The Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) State Scaling Grant, awarded to Idaho through the United Way of Treasure Valley, was designed as a five-year investment supporting 47 rural & title one public schools. That funding is now scheduled to end three 1/2 years early, putting more than $30 million in su...

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81:32

When Policy Meets a Viral Moment: Inside Idaho’s HB...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/12/16

Send us a text How does a bill actually move through a legislature — not in textbooks, but in real life? In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis takes a deep dive into House Bill 41, Idaho’s 2025 “flags and schools” law, a bill that unexpectedly became tied to the now-viral West Ada classroom incident and sparked national debate about patriotism, symbolism, and expression in schools. But instead of reacting to the headlines, we’re stepping back and dissecting HB 41 through one of the most...

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43:01

The Assassination That Rewired American Government

The Purple Zone ·

2025/12/02

Send us a text What do a disappointed office-seeker, a presidential assassination, a reform act from the 1880s, and an academic essay from Woodrow Wilson have to do with your life today? More than you think. In this episode, Alexis traces the surprising story of how the U.S. moved from a full-blown spoils system—“to the victor belong the spoils”—to a modern merit-based civil service. You’ll hear how President James Garfield’s assassination jolted the country into passing the Pendleton A...

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54:13

Human → AI → Human: Navigating AI with Integrity,...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/11/18

Send us a text Alexis sits down with Will Goodman, Chief Technology Officer for the Boise School District and a central voice in Idaho’s statewide conversations on AI in K–12 education. Will and Alexis serve together on an AI in K-12 Education Workgroup in Idaho, and in this episode, they dig into the real questions Idaho is navigating right now. Together they explore: With 94% of Idaho students in public schools, what does “getting AI right” actually mean for an entire system?How schools can...

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70:13

Who Runs This Town? Local Government & the Art of...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/11/03

Send us a text Most people can name the President—but not their local city council members. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, to unpack what local government actually does and why it matters. From who really decides where roads go (hint: it’s not your Eagle City Council members) to how citizens can get involved at every level, this episode gets you started with Local Gov 101. Matt shares insights from his conversations with elected...

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42:00

Beyond the Buzzwords of AI + Education: Transparency,...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/10/28

Send us a text Do you know that AI is already integrated into nearly everything we do online? From the devices in our kids’ classrooms to the apps on our phones—artificial intelligence is part of daily life. In this episode, Alexis sits down with Dr. Jeff Carlson to unpack what AI in education really means and where Idaho can go from here. Together, they trace the timeline of technology, social media, and now AI—three distinct but connected “buckets” that shape how students learn, how parent...

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21:26

School Boards 101: The Role, The Questions, The...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/10/07

Send us a text Can you answer the following questions? What is the number one responsibility of every school board? What are the Five Big Governance Questions EVERY school board member should be able to answer?It’s election season for school board candidates…listen to learn what their real responsibilities are, what to look for as a voter, and why these local races matter so much. Listen to this episode to learn the most important job of a school board member, hear the Five Governa...

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21:14

Conflict Isn’t the Enemy: But Do You Know What Is?

The Purple Zone ·

2025/09/30

Send us a text Conflict doesn’t have to divide us; it can be the wrestle that leads to deeper understanding and stronger communities. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis reflects on her experiences moderating at voucher town halls across Idaho, where dignity has proven essential for meaningful dialogue. (This isn't a convo about vouchers, it's the takeaway from interacting with communities all over Idaho). Drawing from the Dignity Index, personal stories, and even her daughter’s raw re...

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112:20

AI in Education: Golden Ticket or Pandora’s Box?

The Purple Zone ·

2025/09/16

Send us a text Is AI the golden ticket for education—or a fast track to unintended consequences? In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis Morgan sits down with Dr. Jeff Carlson, Head of National Education Partnership for Clever, who spends his days at the center of national and state conversations on AI and edtech. Together, they unpack the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence in classrooms: from personalized learning and teacher support to hard questions about what kids must st...

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52:51

AI in Education & Why Teens Are Disengaged with Dr....

The Purple Zone ·

2025/09/09

Send us a text This episode has been a long time coming—and one I’m beyond thrilled to share. I sit down with Dr. Rebecca Winthrop, co-author of The Disengaged Teen (with Jenny Anderson) and Director of Universal Education and Senior Fellow – Global Economy and Development at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Winthrop’s work has shaped my own research in education policy, and this new book stopped me in my tracks with its insights. So often, when we talk about teens struggling in school, we blam...

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36:22

Policy Happens. Here’s How to See It

The Purple Zone ·

2025/09/04

Send us a text Have you ever thought about your origin story—the moment that sparked your why in your community? And have you noticed we’re living in the future? Listen in to hear what I mean, and how your story connects to the policies shaping our schools, neighborhoods, and everyday lives. From school board decisions in a crowded convention hall to the hidden rules shaping our cities and schools, policy is all around us—even when we don’t notice it. In this solo episode of The Purple Zone, ...

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33:35

When Meta Meets PTA: Partnerships, Policies, &...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/09/01

Send us a text Meta—the company behind Instagram and Facebook—is under fire for the harm its platforms cause kids. But instead of fixing the problem, Meta has launched a sophisticated campaign to protect its image and slow down regulation. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis unpacks: How Meta funds parent and child safety groups—including the National PTA—to build trust with families.Why National PTA has recently come under fire in outside reporting, and what’s fact vs. assumption. I s...

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44:02

Vouchers, Tax Credits, and the Fight for Idaho’s...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/08/26

Send us a text Welcome back! In this season premiere, Alexis takes you on a quick journey of one of Idaho’s long-running education funding battles—stretching from the 1960s fight for a sales tax to today’s heated debates over vouchers. She'll revisit the Save Our Schools campaign that united teachers, parents, and school board trustees more than 55 years ago, and connect it to the 2025 town halls carrying the same spirit of protecting public education. Then, she'll dig into today’s voucher fi...

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119:39

The Culture Keeper: Building Schools Everyone...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/06/10

Send us a text What does it take to build a school culture that kids, teachers, and families all want to be part of? In this episode, I sit down with Tim Sperber, longtime educator, self-described Culture Keeper, and incoming superintendent of the Lewiston School District. With experience as an administrator at every level: elementary, middle, high school, and alternative. Tim shares what he's learned about trust, connection, and the kind of leadership that brings a whole community together. ...

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84:08

What If We Talked Like Everyone Mattered?--The...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/05/20

Send us a text A year in the making, I was fortunate to sit down with Tami Pyfer, co-creator of the Dignity Index, for a conversation that could truly change the way we engage with the world around us. The Dignity Index is more than a measurement—it’s a movement. It’s a tool for self-reflection and public dialogue that helps us recognize the tone and impact of how we communicate—especially when we disagree. And it’s not just for political debates or social media threads. The Dignity Index has...

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49:27

Tech That Helps Parents Protect & Connect: Rethinking...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/05/06

Send us a text Explore how Troomi is helping parents stay connected while setting healthy boundaries—because safer tech leads to stronger families. "Troomi is the kids safe phone for digital wellness and positive mental health." --Bill Brady In this episode, I sat down with Bill Brady, co-founder and CEO of Troomi—a kid-safe smartphone alternative designed with both connection and protection in mind. We dive into the why behind Troomi, exploring how it ...

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52:26

Crowded Classrooms, Cheerful Chalkboards, and a Case...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/04/22

Send us a text What’s it really like to be an elementary school teacher in Idaho? In this episode, I chat with Teri Smith, a dedicated educator from the Middleton School District, about the joy, heart, challenges, and everyday realities of teaching. We talk about what it feels like walking into the classroom on the first day of school versus the last, how much goes into prepping for class, what caring for our students truly looks like—and yes, even the need to plan ahead just to use the bathr...

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61:30

Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA): Exciting...

The Purple Zone ·

2025/04/01

Send us a text Join Alexis as she sits down with Jeff Simmons, Superintendent of the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA), to explore the incredible opportunities this online school provides to students across Idaho. From elementary to high school, IDLA offers courses for students at every level, including summertime classes designed to combat the "summer slide." Not sure what the summer slide is? Tune in to find out! They also discuss how IDLA enables students to take dual credit courses, ...

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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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55 results

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