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

Tennessee Education Commissioner Resigns

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’s Leadership

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

• Tennessee became 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.
• The Grow Your Own initiative significantly increased the number of teachers, special education and ESL endorsements, aspiring principals and assistant principals, and school leaders of color.

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 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.

“Her career reflects a deep commitment to school choice, assessment and accountability,