Texan Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds to lead Tennessee education department as Penny Schwinn exits

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn addresses a town hall at Howard School on Nov. 4, 2021. Schwinn and Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced Schwinn's resignation effective at the end of the school year. Her replacement will be Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn addresses a town hall at Howard School on Nov. 4, 2021. Schwinn and Gov. Bill Lee on Monday announced Schwinn's resignation effective at the end of the school year. Her replacement will be Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds.

By Marta W. Aldrich / Chalkbeat Tennessee May 2, 2023 5 min read

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Penny Schwinn will step down as Tennessee’s education chief at the end of this school year and be replaced by a former Texas administrator who oversees policy for the Jeb Bush-founded advocacy group ExcelinEd.

Lizzette Gonzalez Reynolds will become the first Hispanic American to lead Tennessee’s education department when she starts July 1.

Meanwhile, Schwinn told reporters Monday she plans to continue living in Tennessee and will share her next venture at a later date.