Amanda Alexander, Ph.D.

Amanda Alexander serves as Scholastic’s Chief Academic Officer. In this role, she leads research and validation efforts to ensure the efficacy of products, the delivery of professional learning services and the company’s partnership with the Yale Child Study Center focusing on the intersection of literacy and health. Prior to joining Scholastic, Amanda served as the Vice President of Policy and Partnership Development at Teachstone. With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience, the majority of Amanda’s service has been as a practitioner in the public sector. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher in Washington, DC and was an assistant principal in the New York City Department of Education. In the District of Columbia Public Schools, she served as a principal and held senior leadership roles including Interim Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor and Chief of Elementary Schools where she provided leadership and vision for the district’s elementary schools, led a team of principal supervisors, and oversaw early childhood programs. Over the course of her time as a central office administrator, Amanda also led literacy initiatives and a districtwide taskforce to identify and implement evidence-based practices to improve student performance. Amanda has a B.A. in English and a M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from Howard University, a M.S. Ed. in educational leadership from Baruch College, and a Ph.D. in education from American University.