What’s really happening in Idaho’s education system—and where is it headed next?

In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and Roger Quarles sit down with Jennifer Swindell, CEO, founder, and editor of Idaho Education News, to unpack the realities behind education across the state.

From her early career as a journalist and the first female sports editor in the country to building Idaho’s leading education news platform, Jennifer brings a unique perspective on the intersection of education, policy, leadership, and data.

Together, they dive into the most important topics shaping Idaho education today, including the rise of school choice, the role of parent involvement, and why leadership is often the biggest driver of success—not funding alone. The conversation also explores challenges facing rural school districts, the growing importance of data and accountability, and how communities can better engage with their local schools.

With over two million annual page views, Idaho Education News has become a trusted resource for parents, educators, and leaders looking to better understand the system and make informed decisions.

If you care about the future of Idaho, education, or your community—this is a conversation worth listening to.

Episode Highlights

• Jennifer Swindell’s journey from journalism to education leadership
• The origin and mission of Idaho Education News
• School choice and its impact across Idaho
• Leadership vs. funding in driving school performance
• Rural education challenges and community identity
• Why parents play a bigger role than ever before
• Using data to improve outcomes and accountability

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Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield returns to Ever Onward with Tommy Ahlquist and Roger Quarles for a candid conversation on what’s really happening inside Idaho schools.

From record K–3 reading gains to ongoing struggles in middle school math, this episode breaks down where Idaho education is improving—and where it’s still falling short.

They dive into:

• Why students often fall behind after 6th grade
• How career technical education (CTE) is making school more relevant
• The real debate around school choice and taxpayer accountability
• Why funding isn’t the main issue—how it’s used is
• The leadership gap in education and why it matters more than ever
• The urgency behind every graduating class

Debbie also shares what drives her resilience, how she approaches decision-making at the state level, and why developing strong leaders—not just administrators—is critical for the future of education.

With over 20,000 students graduating each year in Idaho, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This is a grounded, honest look at the challenges, progress, and future of education in Idaho.

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What does it really take to transform education in Idaho?

On this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and co-host Roger Quarles sit down with Terry Ryan, CEO of BLUUM, Idaho’s leading nonprofit incubator for high-performing public charter schools. Terry shares his remarkable journey—from Illinois to Poland to Idaho—and how that path led him to help launch and expand dozens of schools serving students and families across the state.

This conversation explores the future of school choice, why traditional systems can struggle to adapt, and how Idaho has become a model for innovation in public charter education. Terry also breaks down how BLUUM identifies talent, supports school founders, funds growth, and helps create schools built around the unique needs of each community.

From rural school preservation to career-technical education, online learning, classical academies, and high-impact charter models like Elevate Academy and Gem Prep, this episode is a deep look at what’s possible when mission, leadership, and community come together.

In this episode:
• Terry Ryan’s powerful personal journey into education and policy
• Why school choice and mission-driven schools matter
• How BLUUM has helped launch and expand schools across Idaho
• What makes great charter schools work
• The role of talent, leadership, and long-term investment in education
• Why Idaho is becoming a national model for public charter innovation

If you care about the future of education, leadership, and creating opportunity for the next generation, this is a conversation worth hearing.

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In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist sits down with Roger Quarles, Executive Director of the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, for an in-depth conversation on the present and future of education in Idaho.

Roger brings a rare, full-spectrum perspective—having served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, chief deputy state superintendent, and university leader at Boise State. Few people understand Idaho’s education system—from classrooms to policy to innovation—at the level he does.

This conversation goes far beyond surface-level talking points. It explores the structural realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping education today—and what must change to prepare the next generation.

Key topics include:

1. The State of Education in Idaho

• How Idaho’s system has evolved over the past 20+ years
• Where real progress is happening (and where it’s not)
• The growing gap between urban and rural access
• The role of community identity in shaping school systems

2. The Future of Learning in an AI-Driven World

• Why the traditional education model is becoming increasingly outdated
• How AI, automation, and instant access to knowledge are changing what students need to learn
• The shift from memorization to learning how to learn
• What the next 10–20 years could look like for students and educators

3. School Choice, Access, and Opportunity

• What school choice really means for Idaho families
• Differences between public, charter, and private pathways
• Why access to opportunity looks very different depending on location
• The tension between efficiency, funding, and community control

4. Leadership, Culture, and Hiring

• Why “culture eats strategy” in both schools and organizations
• What Roger looks for when hiring leaders at a high level
• The importance of character, humility, and coachability
• Building teams that can navigate uncertainty and change

5. What Young People Actually Need to Succeed

• Why being a good human being still matters most
• The increasing importance of communication, awareness, and real-world skills
• The changing value proposition of college and higher education
• Practical advice for parents, students, and future leaders

Throughout the episode, Roger shares grounded, experience-based insight on how to navigate a rapidly changing world—while staying rooted in values that don’t change.

This is a must-listen for:

• Parents and families in Idaho
• Educators and school leaders
• Business owners and employers
• Anyone thinking about the future of work, leadership, and community

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What’s the plan for the Treasure Valley as we continue to grow?

In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofto sit down with Craig Raborn, Executive Director of COMPASS (Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho), to talk about the future of growth, transportation, and regional planning across Ada and Canyon County.

Craig brings nearly 25 years of experience from some of the fastest-growing regions in the country, including Las Vegas and Houston. Now in Boise, he shares how the Treasure Valley compares, what challenges lie ahead, and why getting aligned on a long-term vision is critical right now.

This conversation breaks down:

• What COMPASS actually does and why it matters
• Why growth needs to be planned 20–30 years in advance
• The concept of “growth paying for growth”
• Lessons from regions like Salt Lake City and Envision Utah
• The role of the business community in shaping the future
• Why vision without execution doesn’t work

This episode is about more than infrastructure. It’s about stewardship, collaboration, and building a region that works for the next generation.

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Today on the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofton sit down with Ryan Head, Executive Director of the Ada County Highway District, to talk about why ACHD matters more than ever as the Treasure Valley continues to grow.

Ryan shares his journey as a Boise native who worked his way up through ACHD, from writing grants and managing long-range planning to now leading one of the most important public agencies in Ada County. The conversation covers the history of ACHD, why its structure is so unique, how road funding actually works, and what it takes to plan for growth years before the public ever sees pavement go in.

They also get into the biggest transportation issues facing the valley today, including impact fees, congestion, safety, Highway 16, Micron’s expansion, and the long-term planning needed to support future growth across Ada County. Ryan also explains why collaboration between cities, businesses, developers, and the public is critical if the Treasure Valley wants to stay ahead of growth instead of constantly reacting to it.

This is a valuable conversation for anyone who cares about the future of Boise, Ada County, and how we keep Idaho moving.

Episode Summary:

Ryan Head of ACHD joins Ever Onward to talk about Boise growth, traffic, road funding, safety, Micron, Highway 16, and the future of transportation in Ada County.

Keywords:

ACHD, Ada County Highway District, Ryan Head, Boise growth, Treasure Valley traffic, Boise roads, Idaho transportation, Micron Boise, Highway 16, Ada County development, infrastructure, Ever Onward Podcast

Chapter Markers:

00:00 Welcome and why ACHD matters

01:51 Ryan Head’s background and Boise roots

04:30 The history and purpose of ACHD

06:53 Road maintenance, quality, and chip seal

08:28 Growth, impact fees, and infrastructure planning

14:43 How ACHD prioritizes projects

18:56 Funding challenges and vehicle registration fees

23:51 ACHD’s relationship with cities

28:31 Safety, schools, and rapid-response improvements

33:03 Highway 16, Micron, and southern growth

38:53 Right-of-way preservation and future bypass planning

41:51 How the business community can help

43:53 Final thoughts and closing

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Idaho is one of the fastest-growing states in America, and the Treasure Valley is at the center of that growth. With hundreds of thousands of new residents expected in the coming decades, one big question is on everyone’s mind:

How will Idaho keep up with the traffic, infrastructure, and transportation demand?

On this episode of the Ever Onward Podcast, Tommy Ahlquist and Garrett Lofto sit down with Jason Brinkman, ITD Division Administrator and District 3 Engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department, and Mollie McCarty, Chief External Affairs Officer at ITD.

They break down what’s really happening behind the scenes as Idaho prepares for massive population growth — from highway expansion and congestion planning to the funding strategies and policies that will shape the future of transportation across the state.

The conversation dives into:

• Why the Treasure Valley population has doubled in 25 years
• How ITD plans highways 20–30 years before they’re built
• The real story behind GARVEE bonds and major infrastructure funding
• How projects like Highway 16 and I-84 improvements come together
• Why right-of-way, land costs, and planning timelines matter so much
• How transportation investment improves safety and saves lives
• What the business community can do to help keep Idaho moving

With Idaho expected to add another 500,000 people in the coming decades, the decisions made today will shape the future of the state’s economy, safety, and quality of life.

If you live, work, or run a business in Idaho — this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

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Growth in the Treasure Valley isn’t knocking at the door anymore—it’s in the living room. We sit down with Simplot CEO Garrett Lofto to connect two stories that matter here: how a people-first, innovation-driven company feeds the world, and how a business-led coalition can help our region move smarter and faster. From farm roots to the C‑suite, Garrett shares the leadership principles that powered his journey—listening, curiosity, and investing in strong foundations—and applies them to a challenge affecting every family and employer in the valley: congestion that steals time.

We lay out the stakes plainly. I‑84 has finite capacity left, and each incident ripples through commerce and daily life. If we keep doing more of the same, gridlock spreads and talent looks elsewhere. So we map out options instead of silver bullets: a southern alternative route to pull freight and through-traffic around the core, Highway 16 as a stronger north–south connector, and a serious look at rail along existing corridors from the Boise Depot through Meridian to Nampa and Caldwell. Rail is a long game, but flat terrain and preserved right-of-way make phased planning plausible—especially if we learn from places like Salt Lake City, where sustained business advocacy and smart funding built durable ridership.

Keep Idaho Moving, now housed at the Boise Metro Chamber under CEO Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, gives this effort a home and momentum. Our goal isn’t to dictate projects; it’s to collect data, align stakeholders, help agencies win studies and funding, and keep the public focused on outcomes that matter: safety, reliability, and time with family. We also preview conversations with ITD District 3, ACHD, and COMPASS to dig into constraints, forecasts, and what near-term wins look like. The message throughout is practical and urgent—right-of-way only gets more expensive, and every month we wait narrows future choices. If we act early and together, we can protect what we love about this place while making room for who’s coming next.

If this resonates, follow the series, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review so more locals can join the conversation. Your insight can shape the routes we take—literally.

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