<PAGE>   1


                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1

                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as her true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in her
name and on her behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in her name and on her behalf in
her capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming her signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Judith A. Paul
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Judith A. Paul



<PAGE>   2




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Terrance D. Paul
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Terrance D. Paul


                                       2
<PAGE>   3





                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Michael H. Baum
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Michael H. Baum


                                       3
<PAGE>   4




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  John R. Hickey
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John R. Hickey


                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Timothy P. Welch
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Timothy P. Welch


                                       5
<PAGE>   6




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Perry S. Akins
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Perry S. Akins


                                       6
<PAGE>   7




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  John H. Grunewald
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            John H. Grunewald





                                       7
<PAGE>   8




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Gordon H. Gunnlaugsson
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Gordon H. Gunnlaugsson





                                       8
<PAGE>   9




                          DIRECTOR'S POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                (2000 Form 10-K)


         The undersigned director of Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. designates
each of Michael H. Baum and Steven A. Schmidt, with the power of substitution,
as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact for the purpose of: (i) executing in his
name and on his behalf Advantage Learning Systems, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 and any related amendments and/or
supplements; (ii) generally doing all things in his name and on his behalf in
his capacity as a director to enable Advantage Learning Systems, Inc. to comply
with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, and all
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (iii) ratifying and
confirming his signature as it may be signed by the attorney-in-fact to the Form
10-K and any related amendments and/or supplements.

         Dated this 16th day of February, 2001.



                                            /s/  Harold E. Jordan
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Harold E. Jordan





                                       9