The Purple Zone

Send us Fan Mail Join 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 person...

Send us Fan Mail   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...

Send us Fan Mail Alexis 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, improvi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 da...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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. T...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the Our Kids Our Schools podcast, you get a PART 1 and PART 2, so be sure to listen to both as they are both being released TODAY . For the episode, Alexis welcomes back Matt Todd, the host of The Ranch podcast, for an enlightening discussion on the recent New York Times Best Seller, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Drawing from their vast life experiences, i...

Send us Fan Mail Join host Alexis Morgan as she dives deep into conversation with Haley Regan, the assistant director of Community Schools . Since its inception in Idaho in 2016, the Community Schools strategy has been at the forefront of reimagining educational leadership and school-community integration across the United States. With the United Way of Treasure Valley recently awarded a significa...

Send us Fan Mail In an intriguing twist to the ongoing dialogue about technology’s impact on children, special guest, Matt Todd, host of The Ranch podcast, sat down for an in-depth interview with Alexis. Their conversation took a hard look at a critical aspect of today's landscape— Kids and Tech: Balancing Kids' Safety and Digital Freedom . Matt, known for his diligent work in interviewi...

Send us Fan Mail Alexis, along with her guest Brad Cuddy, current school board member of the Lewiston School Board, takes an in-depth look at the strategic processes and the power of unified community engagement that led to the successful passage of a crucial school bond.  This episode sheds light on the meticulous planning, leadership excellence, and community involvement that turned this ambitio...

Send us Fan Mail In this inspirational episode, host Alexis engages in a heartfelt conversation with Luc Swensson , a dynamic Idaho teenager who has transformed his struggles into a source of strength not only for himself but for countless others across the nation. With a history of racing cars for kids with cancer, facing bullying for defying stereotypes, and overcoming personal challenges, Luc s...

Send us Fan Mail Join Alexis in this inspiring episode as she sits down with Dr. Jared Talley, a professor at Boise State University with an extraordinary story of resilience and determination. Born and raised in the rural landscapes of Idaho, Dr. Talley shares his unique journey from dropping out of high school to eventually finding his passion and place in higher education. This episode retraces...

Send us Fan Mail Alexis sits down with the state's education frontrunner, Superintendent Debbie Critchfield, to delve into the intricacies of her approach to leading Idaho's education system.  Listen in as Superintendent Critchfield discusses her strategic plans for enhancing educational outcomes, her initiatives supporting educator excellence, and her commitment to ensuring all parents...

Send us Fan Mail In today's enlightening episode of "Capitol Conversations," Alexis and her guests delve into the heart of educational legislation with seasoned experts, Represenatives Sonia Galaviz and Chris Mathias, both of whom have diverse expertise in their educational and professional backgrounds. Our guests, instrumental in shaping Idaho's educational framework, discuss...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Alexis Morgan is joined by Quinn Perry, Deputy Chief and Government Affairs for the Idaho School Board Association. Alexis and Quinn delve into the pivotal role that school board members play in shaping the Idaho education system. They break down the essential duties of a school board member and provide insight into what stakeholders can expect from their rep...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, Alexis has an in-depth conversation with her oldest son, Carter, a recent high school graduate of 2023. Carter shares his insightful perspective on important topics such as adjusting as a new kid at school, the dynamic student-teacher relationship, teenage stereotypes, and what it means for a teenager for adults to convey love and care in a school communit...

Send us Fan Mail In today's episode of Our Kids Our Schools, Alexis unravels the tapestry of school options available for K-12 students. Open enrollment is currently underway, making this a timely and critical conversation. Alexis brings her knowledge, hands-on experience, and unique insights to guide us through the nine different types of schooling options. From traditional public schools to...

Send us Fan Mail Alexis welcomes guest Amy Curtis, a local Boise therapist, to explore the timeless stereotypes that teens face, framed through the lens of the cult classic, 'The Breakfast Club'.🎞️ It's a riveting and insightful discussion that sheds light on trends that have persisted for decades. This conversation contributes to the overall understanding of our school communities,...

Send us Fan Mail In this informative episode, Alexis dives into a fascinating research study on how parents and community members prefer to receive information about schools. The study critically examines whether data from government bodies or narratives from parents and nonprofit organizations are most influential. The findings revealed a clear preference for information. This study may prompt a...

Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode, Alexis delves into the intricacies of the Advanced Opportunities program available to all Idaho public education students. With a hefty sum of $4,625* at stake, Alexis dissects each aspect of the program to help parents comprehend how they can assist their students in accessing all the benefits available. Drawing inspiration from a recent Wall Street J...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alexis delves into the critical importance of school board members and emphasizes why your vote truly matters. Here are the major points covered: The value of your vote in local elections, specifically school board elections, and how it affects your community. The pivotal role school board members play in defining the student experience, student outcomes, and the...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the momentous first episode of Our Kids, Our Schools , a podcast that promises to challenge, inspire, and reshape your perspective on education. The curious spark that ignited this journey was an article from The Atlantic: "The One Parenting Decision that Really Matters."  Alexis Morgan connects the dots between this article (answering that ONE parenting decis...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the exciting preview episode of " Our Kids Our Schools "! In this exciting sneak peek, Alexis takes you on a journey to discover what lies ahead in the new podcast. Get ready to delve into the secrets of fostering a thriving school community and join us in this adventure of learning. As mentioned in the episode, this podcast is a must-listen for parents, teach...