Penny Schwinn

Penny Schwinn is a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience in education, public policy, and strategic leadership. She serves as Chief Strategist for large organizations including the US Department of Education under Secretary McMahon. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Tennessee’s Education Commissioner, where she led transformative reforms, including the Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) Act, which modernized the state’s 30-year-old school funding system, and Reading 360, a literacy initiative that achieved record reading gains statewide. Schwinn also pioneered the nation’s first federally recognized teacher apprenticeship program, addressing educator shortages and modernizing teacher preparation. Previously, Schwinn was an Operating Partner at The Vistria Group and an education consultant prioritizing high-level systemic projects for large corporations and non-profits. Prior to her work in Tennessee, Schwinn held senior leadership roles in Texas and Delaware state agencies and urban school districts, advancing student achievement and operational efficiency. She holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and Claremont Graduate University. Residing in Nashville with her family, Schwinn remains dedicated to strengthening education systems nationwide through innovative, outcomes-oriented, locally-driven solutions.