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Francie Alexander
Senior Vice President, Efficacy & Consulting Research
Francie Alexander is an industry leader in the fields of early childhood education, literacy, and intensive intervention for striving reading and math students. Francie provides inspirational and informative leadership on topics from early and adolescent learning to brain development and its influence on childhood and teenage learning. She works closely to listen to and learn from key school districts across the United States in order to lead HMH's efficacy efforts.
Francie currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Text Project. She served for almost 10 years on the PBS Next Generation Media Advisory Board. She was previously Chief Academic Officer for Scholastic. She has been a frequent guest on NBC's TODAY Show, has written columns for The New York Post, and was "The Book Nanny" for Los Angeles Family Magazine. Additionally, Francie has authored more than 50 books for children, including the STEM Curious George Readers. She currently provides monthly Book Talks in HMH’s Teachers Corner.
Francie is a former member of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the National Assessment of Educational Progress, widely known as "The Nation's Report Card." Prior to her time at HMH, Francie held key positions in both state and federal education agencies. One such position included serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education's research branch, where she led department-sponsored standards efforts and campaigns in support of libraries and the arts. Francie also served as the Associate Superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and assessment for the California Department of Education. She is in the California Reading Hall of Fame, and she received the annual Marcus Foster Award for contributions to Literacy for All in California.
Francie's work is grounded in the classroom, as she has taught students from kindergarten to college. She holds a California Life Teaching Credential from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.A. degree in Education and California Administrative Credential from California Lutheran University, where she was a lecturer.