Penny Schwinn

Last updated
Penny Schwinn
Tennessee Commissioner of Education
In office
February 1, 2019 –July 1, 2023

Penny Schwinn is an American educator and former Commissioner of Education for the U.S. state of Tennessee. She was appointed by Governor Bill Lee on January 17, 2019, [1] and was sworn in on February 1, 2019. [2] She resigned in May 2023.

Contents

Early life and education

Schwinn was born and raised in Sacramento, California. Her mother was an educator for low-income students in Sacramento for nearly 40 years. Many of her extended family are also educators. [3] After graduating high school, she went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, then Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and her PhD in Education Policy from Claremont Graduate University. [4]

Career

Schwinn began her career in education as a high school history and economics teacher in Baltimore, Maryland. She also has been involved in education in South Los Angeles and has worked in the private sector. She then served on the board of education for Sacramento County, California. [5] After being a principal and board member, she served as the Assistant Secretary of Education of Delaware. She later served as the Deputy Commissioner of Standards and Engagement, Deputy Commissioner of Special Populations and Monitoring, and Chief Deputy Commissioner of Academics at the Texas Education Agency. In 2019, she left the agency, after being appointed by Governor Bill Lee to become the next Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education. [4] She was sworn in on February 1, 2019.

On May 1, 2023, Schwinn announced she would be stepping down as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education on June 1, 2023. She was succeeded by Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds on July 1, 2023. [6]

Personal life

Schwinn is married to Paul Schwinn, who is also an educator and has worked with multiple educational institutions and advocacy groups. [3] She has three children, two of whom are students in Tennessee public schools. [2]

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References

  1. ↑ Gonzales, Jason. "Gov.-elect Bill Lee taps reform advocate Penny Schwinn as new Tennessee education commissioner". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  2. 1 2 "About the Commissioner". www.tn.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  3. 1 2 "Six things to know about Penny Schwinn, Tennessee's new education commissioner". Chalkbeat Tennessee. 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  4. 1 2 "Penny Schwinn". Tennessee Board of Regents. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  5. ↑ "Penny Schwinn -- Area 5". KCRA. 2012-06-02. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  6. ↑ "Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn to step down; Gov. Lee names school-choice expert to post". MSN. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
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