A BAD PENNY ALWAYS TURNS UP
THE CURIOUS CASE OF PENNY SCHWINN'S WITHDRAWAL AND THE MAGA SENATE STANDOFF
Well, folks, it seems the education world has dodged another bullet—or perhaps a bad penny, if you will. Penny Schwinn, the former Tennessee Education Commissioner with a resume as long as a CVS receipt and a rap sheet of controversies to match, has withdrawn her nomination for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. And in true Schwinn fashion, she’s not slinking away quietly but instead pivoting to a cushy advisory role under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, where Senate confirmation is as unnecessary as a screen door on a submarine. So, how bad do you have to be to get the cold shoulder from a MAGA-dominated Senate? Let’s unpack this tale of ambition, ethical tightropes, and a charter school escape hatch. The Rise and (Almost) Fall of Penny Schwinn Penny Schwinn’s career reads like a choose-your-own-adventure book, if every path led to a charter school or a billionaire’s pet project. A darling of the education reform crowd, Schwinn has hopscotched through roles in Tennessee, Texas, Delaware, and California, leaving a trail of raised eyebrows and no-bid contracts in her wake. Her tenure as Tennessee’s Education Commissioner was a masterclass in polarizing leadership—championed by some for boosting reading outcomes and steering COVID relief funds, yet lambasted by others for high turnover, morale nosedives, and a knack for cozying up to privatization advocates. Schwinn’s nomination by President Trump to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education was initially seen as a bipartisan olive branch. After all, she’d earned nods from both sides of the aisle for her pragmatic approach to student outcomes. But in the MAGA-verse, where loyalty is measured in decibels and ideological purity is non-negotiable, Schwinn’s resume came with too many red flags—or perhaps rainbow flags, depending on who you ask. Tennessee conservatives, still nursing grudges from her equity initiatives and social-emotional learning advocacy, weren’t having it. Add to that a freshly minted Florida consulting business registered *post-nomination*—because nothing screams “public servant” like a side hustle—and Schwinn’s Senate confirmation was starting to look like a snowball’s chance in a microwave. The Senate Smackdown: MAGA’s Purity Test Let’s set the scene: a Republican Senate, riding high on Trump’s coattails, should’ve been a slam dunk for his nominees. But Schwinn, despite her Trumpian appointment, couldn’t clear the MAGA gauntlet. Conservative influencers, wielding X like a digital pitchfork, labeled her nomination “terrible” faster than you can say “critical race theory.” Her sin? A perceived flirtation with liberal policies—think diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and a soft spot for social-emotional learning, which some conservatives view as the educational equivalent of a participation trophy. But it wasn’t just ideology. Schwinn’s ethical baggage was heavier than a charter school’s endowment fund. Critics pointed to her history of no-bid contracts, like the Tennessee voucher program deal with ClassWallet that ballooned costs without legislative approval. Then there’s her husband’s ties to TNTP, a nonprofit that mysteriously benefited from her policies, and that Florida consulting venture that popped up like a bad penny right after her nomination. Her business partner claimed the company “never started,” but the timing raised enough eyebrows to warrant a Botox shortage. Even MAGA stalwarts, who’ve been known to overlook a scandal or two, couldn’t stomach the optics. When your ethical controversies make Ted Cruz clutch his pearls, you know you’re in trouble. The Charter School Escape Hatch So, what’s a polarizing education reformer to do when the Senate says, “Thanks, but no thanks”? Why, pivot to the private sector, of course! Schwinn’s new gig as a senior adviser and chief strategist for McMahon is a masterstroke of dodging accountability. No Senate hearings, no pesky confirmation votes—just a straight shot to influencing education policy from the shadows. And if history is any guide, Schwinn’s next move might involve the charter school industry, where a checkered past isn’t a dealbreaker; it’s practically a job requirement. The charter school world is like the Wild West of education: less oversight, more “innovation,” and a whole lot of billionaire backing. Schwinn, with her Broad Academy pedigree and Teach For America roots, is no stranger to this landscape. Her career has been a love letter to privatization, from pushing voucher programs to cozying up to organizations like TNTP, which critics argue prioritize profit over pupils. In the private sector, ethical lapses are less likely to make headlines, and the only confirmation you need is a handshake from a well-heeled donor. It’s the perfect landing spot for someone whose ambition outpaces their ability to avoid controversy. The Billionaire Backers and the Privatization Playbook Schwinn’s story isn’t just about one woman’s rollercoaster career—it’s a microcosm of the broader battle over public education. Her rise was fueled by billionaire-backed organizations like the Broad Academy and TNTP, which have long championed privatization under the guise of “reform.” These groups, critics argue, treat public schools like a corporate takeover target, slashing bureaucracy in favor of market-driven solutions that often leave teachers demoralized and communities underserved. Schwinn’s policies, from no-bid contracts to voucher programs, fit this playbook like a glove, prioritizing choice and “innovation” over systemic stability. Her tenure in Tennessee was a case study in this approach. High turnover? Check. Morale issues? Double check. A voucher program that doubled in cost without legislative oversight? Bingo. Critics like Mercedes Schneider, whose blog has been a thorn in Schwinn’s side, argue that these moves weren’t just missteps—they were deliberate steps toward dismantling public education in favor of private interests. And yet, Schwinn’s defenders point to her record of improving reading outcomes and directing COVID relief funds as evidence of her effectiveness. Love her or loathe her, she’s a lightning rod in a debate that’s bigger than any one person. The MAGA Paradox: Loyalty vs. Competence Schwinn’s withdrawal lays bare a curious paradox in the MAGA-Republican machine. On one hand, Trump’s education agenda—slashing bureaucracy, promoting school choice, and dismantling DEI initiatives—should’ve been Schwinn’s wheelhouse. She’s been a vocal advocate for many of these priorities, even if her execution raised ethical red flags. Yet, the same conservative base that cheers Trump’s outsider ethos turned on Schwinn with a vengeance, prioritizing ideological purity over pragmatic competence. It’s as if the MAGA Senate saw her as a RINO in reformer’s clothing—too liberal for their taste, too controversial for their comfort. This internal squabble highlights a deeper tension within the Republican Party: the clash between Trump’s agenda and the influencers who police its boundaries. When conservative X accounts and Tennessee hardliners started circling, Schwinn’s nomination became a casualty of the party’s purity tests. Her pivot to an advisory role is less a defeat than a sidestep, allowing her to wield influence without the Senate’s spotlight. But it raises a nagging question: if a seasoned reformer like Schwinn can’t pass muster with MAGA Republicans, who can? What’s Next for the Bad Penny? As Schwinn settles into her advisory role, the education world is left to ponder what might have been. Her supporters argue that her withdrawal is a setback for cutting red tape and advancing school choice, while her critics see it as a dodged bullet for public education. Either way, Schwinn’s story is far from over. The charter school industry, with its low scrutiny and high rewards, is likely calling her name. And with billionaire backers and a knack for landing on her feet, don’t be surprised if this bad penny turns up again—perhaps with a shiny new consulting firm or a charter network to call her own. In the end, Schwinn’s saga is a reminder that education reform is a high-stakes game where ambition, ideology, and ethics collide. Her withdrawal from the nomination spotlight may have spared her a Senate grilling, but it’s unlikely to dim her influence—or her controversies. As for the MAGA Senate? They’ve proven once again that loyalty trumps all, even if it means rejecting one of their own. So, here’s to Penny Schwinn: the reformer who couldn’t reform the Senate’s mind, but who’ll keep turning up, like a bad penny always does. Big Education Ape: PENNY DOES DC https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/01/penny-does-dc.html
Big Education Ape: A BAD PENNY ALWAYS TURNS UP: THE ODYSSEY OF PENNY SCHWINN, PRIVATIZATION'S TYPHOID MARY https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/06/a-bad-penny-always-turns-up-odyssey-of.html
Pro-choice Penny Nominated to Ed https://tultican.com/2025/06/10/pro-choice-penny-nominated-to-ed/
