Scholastic Appoints Jeffrey Mathews as President of Scholastic Education, Adding to Current Role as Chief Growth Officer
Rhea-AI Summary
Scholastic (NASDAQ:SCHL) appointed Jeffrey Mathews as President, Scholastic Education, effective January 5, 2026, while he continues as Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer. Mr. Mathews has led the division as interim head since June 2025, focusing on high-impact offerings, go-to-market execution, and operational simplification to improve efficiency and profitability.
The company said Scholastic Education is positioned to drive long-term value through literacy leadership, trusted content, and partnerships, while acknowledging ongoing funding volatility and longer decision cycles in the supplemental instructional market.
Positive
- Named President of Scholastic Education effective Jan 5, 2026
- Served interim head since June 2025 with operational progress
- Retains Chief Growth Officer role overseeing growth strategy and IR
- Brings 30+ years of strategy, M&A, and investor relations experience
Negative
- Ongoing funding volatility and lengthened decision cycles in the market
News Market Reaction – SCHL
On the day this news was published, SCHL gained 1.47%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
SCHL was up 1.11% pre-news while key peers were mixed: GCI -1.09%, WLY -3.66%, WLYB +0.13%, DALN +0.06%, PSO -0.51%, suggesting stock-specific factors rather than a sector-wide move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 19 | Sale-leaseback deal | Positive | -6.2% | Announced $386M sale-leaseback of New York City headquarters with 15-year lease. |
| Dec 18 | Earnings results | Positive | +0.4% | Reported Q2 revenue $551.1M, EPS $2.17 and raised repurchase authorization. |
| Dec 18 | Sale-leaseback close | Positive | +0.4% | Closed sale-leasebacks generating $481M gross and estimated $401M net proceeds. |
| Dec 17 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -2.1% | Declared $0.20 per-share quarterly cash dividend for fiscal 2026 third quarter. |
| Dec 04 | Earnings timetable | Neutral | +0.6% | Announced Q2 FY26 earnings release and conference call schedule and webcast info. |
Recent news often positive, with mixed price reactions: three aligned moves and two divergences.
Over the last month, Scholastic announced multiple real-estate sale-leasebacks, including a New York headquarters transaction of $386M and broader deals generating $481M gross and about $401M net proceeds, alongside fiscal 2026 Q2 results showing revenue of $551.1M and diluted EPS of $2.17. A $0.20 quarterly dividend and routine earnings-date notices rounded out updates. Today’s leadership appointment in Scholastic Education fits into this broader operational and capital-allocation transition.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement formalizes Jeffrey Mathews as President of Scholastic Education while he continues as Chief Growth Officer, emphasizing focus on literacy solutions and growth strategy execution. It follows a series of recent milestones, including major real-estate sale-leasebacks generating about $401M in net proceeds and solid fiscal 2026 Q2 results with revenues of $551.1M. Investors may watch how Scholastic Education’s performance, profitability, and partnership growth evolve under this consolidated leadership structure.
Key Terms
m&a financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Scholastic Education advances Scholastic's mission by helping schools and educators address one of their most critical needs – ensuring all children reach their full potential through literacy – by delivering effective, evidence-based learning experiences that students love and educators trust. As the supplemental instructional market normalizes, the Company remains confident that the division is well positioned to drive long-term value through its literacy leadership, trusted content, and deep, enduring partnerships with educators, districts, and state and community organizations.
Mr. Mathews has served as interim head of the division since June 2025, leading meaningful progress in strengthening the business by prioritizing high-impact offerings, refining go-to-market execution and simplifying operations to improve efficiency and profitability. The team has also sustained momentum in key channels, including state and local literacy partnerships, while supporting customers amid ongoing funding volatility and lengthened decision cycles across the industry.
"Scholastic Education is a core part of Scholastic's mission and a meaningful long-term opportunity for earnings growth," said Mr.
"In my expanded role, I'll be focused on deepening our impact in schools, communities and homes by sharpening our strategy and delivering high-impact learning experiences that unlock students' potential and support educators," said Mr. Mathews. "We have a strong foundation, a talented team, and clear opportunities ahead. I'm excited to build on the progress we've made, strengthen our partnerships with educators and literacy leaders, and drive sustainable growth aligned with Scholastic's mission."
Mr. Mathews will continue to serve as Scholastic's Chief Growth Officer, with responsibilities that include refining and implementing Scholastic's long-term growth strategy in partnership with leaders across the business as well as leading the Company's corporate development and investor relations functions.
Mr. Mathews brings more than 30 years of experience in strategy, M&A and investor relations, in addition to his experience as a co-founder of two technology start-ups. He returned to the Company in 2022 as Executive Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations. From 2008 to 2012 at Scholastic, he held the role of Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Business Development & Investor Relations.
About Scholastic
For more than 100 years, Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) has been meeting children where they are – at school, at home and in their communities – by creating quality content and experiences, all beginning with literacy. Scholastic delivers stories, characters, and learning moments that empower all kids to become lifelong readers and learners through bestselling children's books, literacy- and knowledge-building resources for schools including classroom magazines, and award-winning, entertaining children's media. As the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books through school-based book clubs and book fairs, classroom libraries, school and public libraries, retail, and online, and with a global reach into more than 135 countries, Scholastic encourages the personal and intellectual growth of all children, while nurturing a lifelong relationship with reading, themselves, and the world around them. Learn more at www.scholastic.com.
SCHL: Financial
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SOURCE Scholastic Corporation
FAQ
Who is Jeffrey Mathews and what roles does he hold at Scholastic (SCHL)?
When did Jeffrey Mathews begin serving as interim head of Scholastic Education?
What are Mr. Mathews's priorities for Scholastic Education under his new role?
How does Scholastic describe the market outlook for Scholastic Education?
Will Jeffrey Mathews continue leading Scholastic's investor relations and corporate development?
What experience does Jeffrey Mathews bring to his expanded role at Scholastic (SCHL)?
