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#
