Alix Guerrier
SCHOLASTICAbout Alix Guerrier
Alix Guerrier (age 48) is an independent director of Scholastic Corporation and currently serves as CEO of DonorsChoose; he joined the Scholastic board in 2024 and, as of July 16, 2025, moved from a Common Stock-elected seat to a Class A-elected seat . He holds an AB in Physics (Harvard), an M.Ed. (Stanford), and an MBA (Stanford), and has executive experience across nonprofit and edtech organizations .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| DonorsChoose | Chief Executive Officer | Current | Leads mission- and equity-focused K-12 crowdfunding platform |
| GlobalGiving | Chief Executive Officer | 3 years | Led global crowdfunding community for charitable projects |
| LearnZillion | Co-founder | Founded 2011; subsequently acquired | Built cloud-based curriculum provider; exit via acquisition to Edgenuity/Weld North Education |
| McKinsey & Company | Associate; Engagement Manager/Expert | ~5.5 years | Healthcare and Education practices |
| Pan American School of Porto Alegre; Teach for America schools | Teacher | Early career | K-12 teaching roles in Brazil and U.S. (math/science) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Sector | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DonorsChoose | CEO | Nonprofit | Focus on equity in public school funding via crowdfunding |
| GlobalGiving (prior) | CEO | Nonprofit | Global donor platform for charitable projects |
| LearnZillion (prior) | Co-founder | EdTech | Free, cloud-based curriculum; acquired by Edgenuity/Weld North |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director Since | 2024; transitioned to Class A-elected director on July 16, 2025 |
| Independence | Independent under NASDAQ standards; all non-executive directors were independent in FY2025 |
| Committees (Current) | Nominating & Governance Committee (member); Technology, Data & Supply Chain Committee (member) |
| Committees (Prior in FY2025) | Human Resources & Compensation Committee (HRCC) member earlier in FY2025; replaced July 16, 2025 |
| Attendance | All incumbent directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings in FY2025 |
| Board Structure | Controlled company dynamic: Class A holders elect eight of eleven directors; Common holders elect three |
| Executive Sessions | Board regularly meets in executive session of independent directors (Lead Independent Director presides) |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2025 Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Board Cash Retainer | $95,000 |
| Committee Chair Fees | $0 (not a chair; Audit chair=$20k; HRCC/N&G/Tech chairs=$15k; Lead Independent=$25k) |
| Total Cash Fees (FY2025) | $95,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Element | FY2025 Grant Value | RSUs (count) | Grant Date | Vesting | Fair Value/RSU | Deferral Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director RSU grant (2017 Plan) | $125,000 | 3,920 RSUs standard sizing | Sep 18, 2024 | Earlier of Sep 17, 2025 or next annual meeting | $31.88 per RSU | Participates in RSU tax deferral program approved Sep 2023 |
Notes:
- Directors can elect to defer RSU settlement until cessation of service; dividends during deferral are credited to the account .
- No stock options were granted to outside directors in FY2025; annual equity is 100% RSUs at $125,000 value .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Type | Role | Interlocks/Conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public company directorships disclosed in proxy biography |
| HRCC Interlocks | Committee policy | — | HRCC reported no interlocks with SCHL executives at other companies in FY2025 (Guerrier was an HRCC member earlier in FY2025) |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Mission-driven leadership in K-12 and education technology; nonprofit CEO experience and equity focus .
- Strategy and operations background (McKinsey; edtech founder), plus classroom teaching perspective aligned with Scholastic’s end-market .
- Governance competencies relevant to Nominating & Governance and Technology/Data oversight committees .
Equity Ownership
| Category | Shares/Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total Beneficial Ownership | 7,112 | Less than 1% of Common Stock outstanding (beneficial ownership table marker “*”) |
| Directly Owned Common | 3,192 | As of record date (Jul 23, 2025) |
| RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days | 3,920 | Under 2017 Outside Directors Plan |
| RSUs Outstanding (May 31, 2025) | 5,835 | Higher than standard 3,920 due to additional/pro-rata grants |
| Options Outstanding | None listed | Options outstanding table lists other directors; Guerrier not listed |
| Pledged Shares | None disclosed | Company permits pledging in limited cases; Lead Independent Director Barge has 14,570 shares pledged (not Guerrier) |
| Director Ownership Guidelines | 3x annual cash retainer; 5-year phase-in; counts RSUs and vested in-the-money options | Compliance status for Guerrier not disclosed |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives:
- Independent director with substantive education-sector leadership; committee assignments on Nominating & Governance and Technology/Data indicate engagement in board effectiveness and risk oversight .
- Attendance at or above 75% threshold; participation in RSU deferral aligns incentives with long-term shareholder interests .
- No related-party transactions or HRCC interlocks disclosed for FY2025; HRCC uses independent consultant and maintains formal procedures for related person transactions .
-
Risks/Watch items:
- Controlled company dynamics: Class A shareholders elect eight of eleven directors; Guerrier’s move to Class A-elected seat on July 16, 2025 underscores concentration of control and potential minority shareholder disenfranchisement risk .
- Company permits occasional pledging; while not applicable to Guerrier, the Lead Independent Director has pledged shares—this is a general governance red flag to monitor (policy limits hedging; pledging allowed case-by-case) .
- External CEO role at DonorsChoose implies meaningful time commitments; while common for outside directors, monitor for any future related-party transactions or resource conflicts (none disclosed) .
-
Compensation structure signals:
- Outside director pay mix is cash retainer plus fixed-value RSUs vesting by the next annual meeting; no performance metrics in director equity, consistent with market norms but offers limited pay-for-performance leverage at the board level .
- RSU deferral program enhances long-term alignment; Guerrier participates, which is positive for investor confidence .