Three former high-level officials of the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) who spoke with The Tennessee Star on condition of anonymity offered some serious warnings to the public about their former boss, TDOE Commissioner Penny Schwinn:
- Commissioner Schwinn’s leadership problems could trickle down to the state’s public schools, and parents are right to worry.
- Additionally, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who appointed Schwinn, should worry that she could cost him reelection in 2022.
TDOE officials, as well as Lee’s staff members, have not returned The Star’s repeated requests for comment on this matter.
“When I left the department all I did was pray that the actions of the state Department of Education didn’t matter that much for what happened in classrooms because, if it did, Tennessee children would be in for a world of hurt. I think parents should be worried because of Penny Schwinn’s attempt at overreach,” said the first source.
“I don’t think most parents like the suggestion of the well-being checks she put out there. She has no institutional control over the department, and I think that shows up in various ways in what a child experiences in a classroom. I think strong districts are able to overcome that impact, like Williamson County, but there are some non-negotiables that the state department is required to oversee. Things like testing. Things like accountability. She has shown her complete ineptness of those things.”
The second source, meanwhile, referenced complaints, as reported, that Schwinn has created low morale and driven several veteran employees out of the TDOE — while also wasting money on higher-than-usual salaries for certain employees.
“I think that school districts aren’t going to get the support that they need, and that means kids don’t get the support that they need,” the second source said.
“And if there aren’t funds to pay for it because they are being spent wildly, which I firmly believe they are, that means funds don’t go to students ultimately.”
The third source, meanwhile, warned Lee that Tennessee voters might penalize him for staying loyal to Schwinn:
“I don’t know why he [Lee] lets this continue,” the third source said.
“He might not even win the primary for the next governor’s race.”
As reported, these three sources have also alleged that Schwinn mocked Lee at a staff meeting last year, falsified government records, and lied to avoid appearing in public alongside U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
And, have him look at this problem:the Dept. Of Health’s handling of Covid reporting, data management , and restrictions on visits to elder care facilities !
Schwinn isn’t going to be reason Lee doesn’t get re-elected. Lee’s got that covered all by himself.
Lee runs the Governor’s office like he runs his business by constantly screwing people over. Friend got a bid from Lee Company to replace their main sewage line. Lee came back with a quote that was several thousand dollars over what several of his competitors were offering. Even Jimmy Hiller was going to replace it for significantly less than what Lee was asking.
Boycot Lee Compnay. Use someone else for your electrical, plumbing, etc needs.
Time to start thinking of a primary opponent for Lee. Need to get behind a candidate soon so we don’t end up with 20 different ones diluting the effort.
Running government is very different than running your own business as there are other elements of accountability that executive leadership has to consider. That being said good management will get rid of your bad employees while bad management gets rid of your good employees. There are trickle down effects and it is clear Schwinn is a central-planning liberal. People will begin to suspect Lee is a RINO by keeping this lady in place and allowing her to continue to make left-leaning decisions. Lee says he has faith in her, but he has not explained why – any maybe he can’t.
“Former TDOE Employees Warn That Penny Schwinn Jeopardizes Tennessee’s Public Schools As Well As Bill Lee’s Reelection Chances”
Usually, an incumbent Governor is easily re-nominated and re-elected. The people of Tennessee CANNOT afford to gratuitously GIVE the Governor’s Office to the Dems (for 4, or possibly 8 years). If Governor Lee’s actions are jeopardizing the control of the Governor’s Office by the Conservatives/Republicans, I think that it is time for the Republican leadership of the General Assembly to meet with Governor Lee (if they haven’t already) and tell him that he has a big problem that MUST be ‘fixed.’ Governor Lee must be made to understand that if his administration has a problem that needs to be ‘fixed’ and he won’t, that they will, one way or another. And of course, as everyone understands, PERCEPTION IS REALITY in politics.