Hello, hello! I’m Dani Leffler, and I have been IDLA’s Communications Specialist since September 2024. In my role, I get to find creative ways to tell IDLA’s story and help more people understand the opportunities we provide to students across Idaho. Born and raised in Boise, I love exploring Idaho’s mountains with my family and cheering on the Boise State Broncos, my alma mater. When I’m not teaching an indoor spin class, you can usually find me discussing books or playing bar trivia with friends, or curled up with my cowboy corgi, Django, watching the newest arthouse movie.
Unmuted: IDLA Q&A
Q: What does a typical day look like in your role?
A: Every day looks a little different in my role, but most begin with a cup of coffee (or two!) and a corgi pup curled up at my feet beneath my desk. I typically spend the morning checking our social media accounts, reviewing notifications and tags, and responding to emails. From there, the rest of my day depends on what our communications team is working on. I might be planning the month’s social media content, putting together our monthly IDLA newsletter, crafting a student spotlight, meeting with colleagues, planning upcoming video features, or representing IDLA at our booth during a local conference. Essentially, I help with just about anything related to IDLA’s forward-facing and internal communications. I love that no two days are exactly alike, but every day gives me an opportunity to be creative!
Q: What’s one thing about your job that might surprise people?
A: Despite what some might think, I don’t spend all day scrolling. In fact, far from it! Most of my time is spent planning and crafting social media posts, articles, emails, videos, and more. There is a lot of strategy and thought behind every piece of content we share. The goal is always to create something valuable for our audience while helping more people understand IDLA’s mission and the impact we have across Idaho.
Q: What’s one project or achievement at IDLA that you’re especially proud of?
A: At the 2025 VLLA Conference, each organization was asked to create a short video showcasing what it had been up to over the past year. IDLA took that assignment and ran with it! We created a faux infomercial featuring members of our leadership team, and it was such a fun project to bring to life. The video ended up being a hit at the conference, and people were still talking about it afterward. I was incredibly proud to create something that stuck in people’s minds while showcasing IDLA’s personality, mission, and impact. If you haven’t seen it, check the video out here: https://youtu.be/3NVzNEv_eBk?si=Cv9omFvAMsploIg0
Q: What do you love most about working in online education?
A: As someone who was born and raised in Idaho, I love working for an organization that directly supports students and families in my home state. I attended public school in the Treasure Valley, and I would have loved to have had access to many of the options IDLA offers today. It is exciting to see students explore new interests, work toward their goals, and shape an education that works for them. Knowing that I get to play even a small part in making those opportunities possible is pretty special.
Q: What’s one unique aspect of IDLA that people might not realize?
A: One of the biggest takeaways I have from my (almost) two years at IDLA is just how deeply the staff cares about the work they do. This is not simply a job to us. It is a shared passion for helping Idaho students gain access to the educational opportunities they need to succeed. IDLA is filled with some of the kindest people with the biggest hearts!
Q: If you could swap roles with someone at IDLA for a day, who would it be and why?
A: I think it would be so much fun to switch roles with one of our Regional Support Specialists. They get to connect face-to-face with schools and see firsthand how IDLA supports students and educators across Idaho. They also get to travel throughout our beautiful state, including some of its most rural communities. How cool would it be to explore Idaho while seeing the impact of our work up close?!
Q: What’s a favorite memory you’ve had while working at IDLA?
A: I have had so many great moments at IDLA, but one that immediately comes to mind is my very first week. On my first day, I traveled with several colleagues (most of whom I had never met) to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the 2024 VLLA Conference. Talk about jumping right in! There was no better way to learn about the world of digital learning, and certainly no better way to get to know my new coworkers than by traveling across the country with them. 😂
Q: What’s one fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
A: Fall is my absolute favorite time of year, so I am VERY excited that September is here! Football season (Go BSU!), crisp air, pumpkin-flavored everything, spooky books, horror movies, and sweater weather. I love it all!
Lightning Round!
Q: What’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order?
A: Black coffee. Iced or hot, depending on the season. Yep, that’s it.
Q: If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
A: I would LOVE to have dinner with the musical artist, Prince. But only if I could invite my dad, since he is his number one fan. I can’t even imagine how much fun that would be! Hopefully, it would include a jam session afterward.
Q: What’s the best book, TV show, or podcast you’ve enjoyed recently?
A: I am a HUGE movie buff, which is actually what I studied in college, so one of my favorite podcasts is The Film Vault. I have been an avid listener for about 10 years and have even had the chance to get involved by assigning movies for the hosts to watch. After all these years, it is still a podcast I look forward to every week.
Q: What’s one piece of technology you couldn’t live without?
A: Spotify. Music is life! I teach group spin classes, and creating the playlists is one of my favorite parts. I get completely absorbed in choosing each song and placing it in just the right spot. It is part meditation, part surgery.
Q: If you could work remotely from anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: This is the toughest question for me because travel is one of my biggest passions. Can I work remotely and pick a new place to explore every few weeks? If I had to pick one place to actually spend an extended amount of time, it would be Lake Como in Italy. I went for the first time last year and completely fell in love with it. I keep telling myself that one year, I’ll spend a whole summer there.
Wrap up:
In my nearly two years at IDLA, I have learned how powerful it can be to bring creativity and purpose together. This role has shown me that creativity is not just about making something fun. It can also help people see why the work we do matters.
One of my favorite Macklemore lyrics is, “You know you’ve got a whole world to change, but understand who you’ve gotta change first.” I love the reminder that making a difference begins with our own willingness to learn and grow. It’s a mindset I hope to carry with me throughout my work and beyond.
