Claim OwnershipThe Purple Zone
Subscribed: 2Played: 11
Subscribe
© 2026 The Purple Zone
Description
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 platitudes.
It’s about naming what often goes unsaid — and making space for a more honest, human approach to systems that impact all of us.
How systems shape our communities, from policy on paper to action in practice. + Thinking Out Loud as a PhD Student
63 Episodes
Reverse
Send a text 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 grandfather’s journey to America in 1914, to visiting Minidoka National Historic Site with her childr...
Send a text 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 budget process works, 2. Why the Senate rejected the proposal, and 3. Work to connect t...
Send a text 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, and the role of the Idaho Public Charter School Commission...then zoom out to the bigger policy design...
Send a text 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 problem the working group set out to solve and what “Train Here, Stay Here, Grow Here” actually means in pr...
Send a text 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 basic/quick overview). When we don’t understand that structure, modern debates about elections can feel ...
Send a text 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 trying to advocate for their children in complex systems they didn’t design. Through two personal stories...
Send a text 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 legislative session facing a significant budget challenge. Alexis doesn’t attempt to retrace every step tha...
Send a text 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, at the State Capitol. This year’s event includes a lunch with lawmakers and offers a meaningful chanc...
Send 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 suppo...
Send 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 in...
Send 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 Act,...
Send 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 ma...
Send 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 of...
Send 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 parents e...
Send 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 Governance...
Send 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 refle...
Send 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 still...
Send 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 blame t...
Send 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, I s...
Send 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 shar...
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
This sounds like such an insightful conversation—especially the shift from blaming tech to focusing on engagement. The idea of learning modes really makes you rethink how students connect with school. Funny enough, while trying to better understand grading and student performance alongside topics like this, I came across https://gradescalculate.com/ and it actually helped me see how outcomes are measured in a much clearer way. Definitely adding this episode (and the book) to my list!