Image Credit: TN.gov & Google Earth
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn has withdrawn from being considered for a federal level position at the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
Schwinn’s nomination faced opposition from conservative lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and there was uncertainty that she would clear the votes needed in the Senate.
During a webinar on education funding and policy last week, Anna Edwards, Chief Advocacy Officer for consulting firm Whiteboard Advisors, stated that Schwinn had decided to step aside despite having secured enough votes in order to take a role in advising the DOE Secretary, a position that requires no confirmation process.
Schwinn’s decision to serve as a senior advisor and chief strategist has been confirmed by the agency, and Secretary Linda McMahon has expressed gratitude for Schwinn, calling her a “brilliant education mind.”
In a statement, Schwinn said, “I’m grateful to President Trump and Secretary McMahon, and remain committed to protecting kids, raising achievement, and expanding opportunity – my lifelong mission and north star.”
Schwinn served as the state’s education commissioner from 2019 to 2023 during which time she received much criticism from conservatives, and calls for her removal.
Then Mayor of Maury County Andy Ogles called for Schwinn’s removal in September of 2020, shortly after her announcement that Tennessee’s Department Education would soon implement a plan to conduct well checks on every single child in the state from birth to age 18, regardless of whether they were enrolled in public schools.
Parents decried such government overreach which would have included phone calls, emails, and home visits to check up on vaccination records among other reviews, and chillingly would have documented any parental refusal to go along with the “optional” program.
Schwinn quickly scrapped plans for the well checks after outcry from the public, chalking it up to “miscommunication” about the agency’s intentions to support “at-risk” students during the pandemic.
Also criticized over state “expectations” about masking students when they returned to class in-person, and communication regarding learning loss, Schwinn showed a pattern of poor communication which she regularly deflected onto “misinterpretation.”
Schwinn also came under fire for her support of English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum Wit & Wisdom, promoting Critical Race Theory (CRT), which failed a state review twice and even more egregiously, replaced curriculum that had passed all state standards.
Wit & Wisdom later became the subject of a lawsuit brought by Williamson County parents.
While a voting member for the Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission, Schwinn granted waivers for 33 counties in the state to use Wit & Wisdom in their school districts. This action ultimately cost Schwinn her ability to vote on the commission, taking away her ability to grant waivers in the future.
Schwinn was familiar with the curriculum as it was used at a charter school that she founded in her hometown of Sacramento, CA. That school, Capitol Collegiate Academy, is one of two nationwide that sat on a panel for the Wit & Wisdom’s publisher, Great Minds.
According to Robin Steenman, spokesman for the Williamson County chapter of Moms for Liberty, the curriculum intertwined ELA with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) – something that conservative parents say is a cover for CRT and which is now outlawed in Tennessee’s public schools.
One retired school teacher told The Tennessee Conservative that Schwinn’s push for SEL in Tennessee public schools was one of the worst things that the state’s DOE ever did to education.
“We spent training and resources on the SEL nonsense instead of improving basic academic fundamentals,” he said.
Despite her nomination by President Donald Trump in January to serve as deputy Education Secretary, support for the nomination was lukewarm from both conservatives and liberals.
Tennesseans also remember Schwinn’s conflict of interest during her time as the state’s education commissioner. Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent on contracts with TNTP, a teacher training company hired to help students emerge from a learning lull caused by the pandemic. The company employed Schwinn’s husband, Paul. The initial contract was signed a full month before the Central Procurement Office gave final approval to a mitigation plan meant to ensure that Schwinn avoided any conflicts of interest.
Despite this, the Fiscal Review Committee approved an extension through 2024, doubling the original $8 million contract that was previously approved.
During the confirmation hearing in June, Schwinn’s numerous education-related businesses raised several red flags as to conflicts of interest. She said she would resign from some roles, and divest ownership interests, among other actions.
She was also pressed by Republicans for commitment to President Trump’s agenda to get rid of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, as well as policies handling sports and transgender athletes.
Other Sources:
Penny Schwinn out as nominee for No. 2 in Trump Education Department – Chalkbeat
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
3 Responses
Her “brilliant mind” is highly trained in subversion- advancing a marxist goal. Her training and actions demonstrate her alliance with CRT, SEL and state control over children. Very disturbing Suzie Wiles cannot see that.
Lucifer’s own CA dimmercrap. They are killing our Republic. One of many poor choices DJT has made, his worst this time is lucifer’s own pharma’s Suzy Wiles.
Who was pushing her? Is she someone’s girlfriend or sister or daughter?