Former Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn has been named Deputy Secretary of Education by President Donald Trump.

“Penny has a strong record of delivering results for children and families,” Trump wrote. “A former teacher herself, Penny became the founding principal of a charter school, because she believes in the power of School Choice, and is committed to delivering the American Dream to the next Generation by returning education back to the states.”

If confirmed, Schwinn would serve under Trump’s Education Secretary Nominee Linda McMahon, McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) fame who has formerly served in a Trump cabinet during his first terms of office.

Schwinn announced her resignation as Tennessee Education Commissioner in 2023. Since her departure, she has served as vice president for K-12 education at the University of Florida.

Schwinn has held several top roles at the Texas Education Agency, served as Assistant Secretary of Education in Delaware and was on the board of education for Sacramento County. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkley, a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. from Claremont University.

During her time in the leadership of Tennessee education, Schwinn helped establish the Reading 360 program, implemented the first school choice program and worked to tweak the technology issues that plagued TNReady testing.