Tennessee’s Top Education Official Stepping Down Over ‘Extraneous Politics’

Commissioner Penny Schwinn told 'The 74' she has grown tired of culture wars in the classroom

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Dr. Penny Schwinn testified at the House Education Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 23, 2020. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

The top education official in Tennessee, Commissioner Penny Schwinn, will leave her position at the end of the school year later this month following four years with the department, Gov. Bill Lee announced on Monday.

In an interview with “The 74,” a news organization that covers America’s education system, Schwinn said she had grown tired of the distracting culture war battles over race and gender in the classroom.

“I see it as extraneous politics and my job is to educate kids,” she told the outlet. “I knew that my charge, first and foremost, was to move our state forward.”

Schwinn led the department through COVID-19 school closures and moves to online learning during that time, leading to criticism from both sides of the aisle for the Republican-appointed commissioner. She also led the department through its implementation of education savings accounts for students in Shelby and Davison Counties, which includes Memphis and Nashville.

​​“During her years of dedicated service, Penny has played a key role in our administration’s work to ensure educational opportunity for Tennessee students and secure the next generation of teachers, while navigating historic learning challenges,” Lee said in a press release. “I have tremendous gratitude for her leadership and wish her much success in her next chapter.”

Schwinn’s Leadership

Schwinn oversaw the education department through some challenging times and also brought some firsts for education in the nation to Tennessee.

This included Tennessee becoming the first U.S. state to make teaching an apprentice-based profession, which makes it free to become a teacher while also being paid to do so.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber of the Capitol building in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 31, 2022. Mark Zaleski/AP Photo

“The Grow Your Own initiative has significantly increased the number of teachers, special education and ESL (english as a second language) endorsements, aspiring principals and assistant principals, and school leaders of color,” the press release stated.

Schwinn also led the department through Lee’s controversial school funding reform measures, where last year, a law reconfiguring a 30-year-old funding formula came into effect.

This changed education funding from a former funding formula, which used 46 separate resources to calculate funding needs, to a new formula that focuses more on a set amount of per-student spending and student enrollment, with the possibility of additional funding for specific needs such as special education.

This has increased total funding for education, but some districts are concerned they could lose money as others attract additional funding.

Additionally, Tennessee has invested more in vocational and STEM education for high school and middle school students, and increased access to dual enrollment for high school juniors and seniors.

Schwinn led the state’s education system through COVID-19 learning loss by prioritizing literacy and learning loss intervention, and creating the largest permanent summer school program and largest tutoring program in the nation, according to the department.

Reynolds Taking Over

Lee has announced that Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds will succeed Schwinn as commissioner beginning July 1.

“Lizzette’s significant education policy expertise and leadership make her well-suited to continue our work to deliver a high-quality education and expand school choice for Tennessee students,” said Lee in the press release. “I welcome her to Tennessee and appreciate her service to students, families, and teachers across the state.”

She is currently the vice president of policy for ExcelinEd, based in Florida, and previously served as deputy legislative director for then-Gov. George W. Bush, a special assistant and regional representative to the U.S. Secretary of Education, and chief deputy commissioner for the Texas Education Agency.

High school students work in a classroom in Homestead, Fla., on March 10, 2017. RHONA WISE/AFP/Getty Images

“Her career reflects a deep commitment to school choice, assessment and accountability, college and career pathways and education policy,” the release stated, pointing to Gov. Lee’s focus on school choice and education savings accounts since taking office.

Schwinn’s Background

Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn will step down at the end of the month. Tennessee Department of Education

Schwinn took over Tennessee’s Department of Education on Feb. 1, 2019, after being chosen one month earlier by Lee shortly after he took office. She came to the department from the Texas Education Agency and replaced former Commissioner Candice McQueen.

Commissioner Schwinn served as the chief deputy commissioner of education at the Texas agency prior to her move to Tennessee. Prior to that, she was the chief accountability and performance officer for the Delaware Department of Education.

She was also an educator with Teach for America in the mid 2000s, working in Los Angeles and Baltimore City public schools. Schwinn is also the founder of a charter school that serves low-income students in South Sacramento.

Sam Pearcy, currently deputy commissioner of operations at the Texas Department of Education, will serve as the department’s interim commissioner until July 1.

The Epoch Times reached out to Schwinn for comment but did not hear back.