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APRIL 2005

Profiles In Education:
Francie Alexander, Chief Academic Officer of Scholastic

By Joan Baum, Ph.D.

Scholastic, which used to be known exclusively for its school-distributed magazine, may now have another singular reputation as the American publisher of Harry Potter, whose latest adventure, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, will be released to stores on July 16, preceded by another extraordinary PR blitz, though it’s hard to imagine that all 10.8 million copies of the first printing will not sell out. Francie Alexander, Scholastic’s new Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, is hardly complaining, but beyond what the general public may know about the company, the fact is that Scholastic, Inc. is “the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books and a leader in educational technology,” a hugely successful education enterprise, in print and online, with an over 80-year history producing materials and research. In her comments on Harry, Ms. Alexander shows her expertise and experience as a teacher (years in L.A.). The Potter books, says this confessed crossword puzzle addict, are not just powerful stories, but well written fantasy adventures on important themes to youngsters that are full of semantic and linguistic word play, which are central to Scholastic goals.

Teaching reading should be approached in a “thoughtful” way that responds to scientific research. That means that Ms. Alexander will be focusing on Scholastic as “an educational think tank” and providing the nation’s political and educational leaders as well as parents with another level of resources. Long an advocate of phonics, which she prefers to call “metaphonics” because she wants vocabulary building to be integrally related to comprehension, Ms. Alexander, who is proud of having introduced youngsters to “Ms. Alphabet” when she had 32 kids in a classroom trying to learn 26 letters for 44 sounds, notes that she preaches what she has practiced. Scholastic gives her a broader canvas on which to paint. So where did this energetic, confident, missing-not-a-beat articulator of educational values hone her values? She was the first in her family to graduate from college, she says, and once her parents saw her commitment—and heard others sing her praises—they were fully supportive and encouraging. Of course, there have been mentors along the way, among them former NYC Schools Chancellor Ray Cortines on whose Principal for a Day committee she sat.

Will there be difficulty in having national research findings implemented by the different states? Scholastic, she answers, tries to “convey respect for different systems,” though it will not compromise its presentation of research findings. Besides, the company is known for publishing “the best books at the best prices” for the most access in urban and suburban schools. Indeed, she points out, the Scholastic office in New York looks like a library, and it’s the rare visitor—child or parent—who does not want to make off (and does!) with a book. The challenge, as Francie Alexander knows, extends beyond publishing. It lies primarily with research. A realist, she points out that professional development takes time, while children need improvements immediately. An analogy that has currency among educators is that getting and implementing better information is like “knitting the sweater while you’re wearing it.” Scholastic, however, has the time to do appropriate studies and ensure wide distribution. Emphasis these days is on language development and vocabulary building and addressing the often wide disparity of achievement among children in each grade.  Here technology can assist in individualizing and differentiating learning, for example, visualizing verbal skills (the word “spout” is understandable if you can see a picture), in providing opportunities for multiple repetition, and in delivering “anchored instruction”—using computers to model real-world experiences; e.g., letting a child who doesn’t get to visit the Mint in Washington, D.C. visit a currency site online and see the basic vocabulary that goes with such instruction. Computers also assist assessment and record keeping.

Public education has always been Francie Alexander’s passion, and she laughs as she says she will probably complete her over 30-year career in education by returning some day to the classroom where she fell in love with a first-grade class (though she has taught every level, in various parts of the country). Teaching is where her heart is. Meanwhile, Scholastic has the head as well of someone who has thought long and deeply about improving the nation’s schools at all levels and in getting all children “to learn and to love reading.” Treasures reside at: www.scholastic.com#

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