The Purple Zone

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alexis sits down with Joey Palmer , a school administrator in the Treasure Valley (larger Boise area in Idaho), who’s taking a different approach to technology in the classroom. This isn’t about being anti-tech—it’s about asking better questions: When does technology actually improve learning, and when does it get in the way? Joey shares how his district is shifti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Alexis sat down with Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) Superintendent Dr. Jeff Simmons to unpack what really happened with HB 940 and related legislation and why this moment is about far more than online classes. We break down the full policy landscape and the impacts on kids in the state? The 50% in funding cuts to IDLA means fewer courses, fewer enrollments...

Send us Fan Mail This episode breaks down a new Idaho law impacting teachers unions, but more importantly, what it reveals about how policy actually works in practice . This isn’t just about unions. It’s about systems, processes, and what happens when infrastructure quietly shifts underneath schools. Segment Breakdown: 1. Radiator Capping (process shift): Bypassing the normal legislative process c...

Send us Fan Mail Lately I’ve been asking myself a question. Have we forgotten the stories that built the communities we live in today… or were many of us never really taught them in the first place? In this reflective solo episode, Alexis explores the stories that shaped her understanding of service and community, from Anne Frank and a Holocaust survivor who visited her classroom, to her immigrant...

Send us Fan Mail Budgets aren’t flashy and they’re usually not the most fun thing to talk about. But when the Idaho Senate rejected the state’s largest budget bill the $5.7 billion Health and Welfare budget it revealed deeper tensions inside the Legislature over fiscal responsibility , Medicaid spending, and recent tax cuts. In this episode of The Purple Zone ,  I break down: 1.  How Idaho’s budge...

Send us Fan Mail Idaho has had charter schools for nearly three decades. They were created to innovate, and the question today is: are they doing that? In this episode, I’m joined by Duncan Robb, education policy expert and the writer behind the Substack K–12 Education in Idaho (k12educationidaho.substack.com). We break down the basics, what charter schools are (and aren’t), how they’re governed,...

Send us Fan Mail Idaho ranks 50th in physicians per capita and 44th in primary care access . So what’s the real plan to fix it? In this episode, I sit down with Representative Dustin Manwaring to break down Idaho’s Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) strategy, the proposed 36-month rollout, and how it intersects with the $1 billion Rural Health Transformation Grant. We talk through the core prob...

Send us Fan Mail Who actually has the power over elections in the United States — the federal government, the states, or the president? Alexis takes you go back to the Constitution itself. Because here’s the truth: many adults have never been taught (or have near forgotten) how the Constitution is structured, where power is assigned, or why federalism exists in the first place. (This is a super ba...

Send us Fan Mail When special education isn’t fully funded, the cost doesn’t disappear...it gets absorbed by families, classrooms, and educators. In this solo episode of The Purple Zone , I unpack what underfunded special education actually looks like on the ground: for students whose needs go unmet, for teachers navigating behavior and safety challenges without enough support, and for families tr...

Send us Fan Mail The math ain’t mathing...and that’s not about blame, it’s about reality. Yes this podcast has the words BUDGET, LEGISLATURE, DOGE, and GOVERNANCE...but I promise it's NOT boring--but rather something that is intended to help ALL Idahoans (and my friends in other states), understand and connect where you are right now--with governance choices.  Idaho is entering the 2026 legis...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the first Purple Zone episode of 2026. As the new year begins and the legislative session ramps up (start date is January 12) ... I’m sharing three important opportunities and announcements for Idahoans who care about kids, families, schools, and the policies that shape our communities. First, we’re talking about Idaho PTA Day on the Hill , happening Tuesday, January 20...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 in...

Send us Fan Mail 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 he...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 t...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 schoo...

Send us Fan Mail 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. W...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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&ap...