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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 navigating the repercussions of the recently failed Supplemental Levy for the Caldwell School District, which serves approximately 5,500 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

Marisela shares insights into the impact of the failed levy, which fell short by just 100 votes, and the difficult choices made by the board in response—decisions which included a school closure and staff reductions. Though this episode was recorded before the final board meeting that determined these course corrections, Marisela provides an honest, heartfelt look at the complexities and emotional weight of such decisions. Together, they discuss the resilient spirit of Caldwell's educators and the community's ongoing efforts to ensure that all students receive a quality education despite the financial hurdles.

Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the specific changes on the horizon for Caldwell's schools, such as the closure of one elementary school and the restructuring of middle schools. They will also hear about the critical importance of community engagement in shaping the school district's future, as well as the strategies being employed to navigate budget shortfalls while prioritizing student well-being and educational quality. Tune in for an inspirational and revealing conversation on leadership, resilience, and the power of community solidarity.

For more info on the Caldwell School Board's decision, check out this quick read from the Idaho Ed News: https://www.idahoednews.org/news/caldwell-approves-next-years-budget-which-includes-school-closure/

Another news story by Idaho News 6: https://www.kivitv.com/caldwell/caldwell-school-district-closing-facilities-shrinking-programs-following-failed-supplementary-levy

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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 importance of engaging with young children, the multitude of available resources, and the organization's goal of empowering parents in their children's early learning journey. They also highlight how the early years are critical for brain development, laying the foundation for future learning and growth. Be sure to visit their website to discover resources available at your local library or other community groups. You can even have these invaluable tools sent directly to you. Learn how investing in quality early education results in substantial benefits for families, communities, and society at large. Don’t miss out on this insightful episode that underscores the power of early education and the impactful work of Idaho AEYC.

Connect with Alexis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.alexis.morgan/

Find Idaho AEYC: https://www.idahoaeyc.org/

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Utilize Alexis and her awesome skills. Check out her website: https://www.thealexismorgan.com/

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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, insightful conversations with previous guests, and their combined content expertise, Alexis and Matt delve deeply into the main points of the book. Far surpassing a mere book review, they tackle the profound impact of social media and technology on Generation Z. Together, they explore the loss of play-based childhood, the significant rewiring happening in young kids, teenagers, and early twenty-year-olds, and the alarming rise in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression among this generation.

In this episode, Alexis and Matt bring forth real-time solutions that parents, schools, and state leaders can deploy to address this pressing social issue. And the good news? We can do something about it—but it will require collective action. Let’s join forces for the sake of our kids and work towards creating healthier environments that foster healthy minds, bodies, and hearts. Tune in for a thought-provoking episode that aims to make a difference.

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Find Alexis on IG at https://www.instagram.com/the.alexis.morgan/

Connect with Alexis online at https://www.thealexismorgan.com/

Check out Matt's podcast, The Ranch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPqAyKa87RsAOIxIrwLX4ie3OBPqtLyWu

Find Alexis on Instagram and JOIN in the conversation: https://www.instagram.com/the.alexis.morgan/

Utilize Alexis and her awesome skills. Check out her website: https://www.thealexismorgan.com/