Act now! Sign this urgent petition:

Dear President Trump,

I write to you on behalf of Proclaiming Justice to The Nations (PJTN) and concerned citizens across the nation, urging you to rescind your nomination of Penny Schwinn for the position of Deputy Secretary of Education. Based on her past actions and track record, we believe that Schwinn is an unsuitable, unscrupulous, and dangerous choice for such an important role in shaping the future of our children’s education.

Schwinn’s tenure as Tennessee’s Education Commissioner has been marred by multiple scandals, failures of oversight, and policies that have jeopardized the well-being of children and undermined the educational system. As you may know, in early 2019, she was appointed by Governor Bill Lee to oversee the Tennessee Department of Education, despite a troubling audit conducted by the state of Texas. The audit revealed that Schwinn had failed to follow essential rules for a no-bid, $4.4 million contract related to special education services. This alone demonstrates her lack of accountability and disregard for the proper processes needed to safeguard public funds and services for vulnerable children.

Further compounding these concerns, Schwinn’s approval of a $2.5 million no-bid contract with the Florida-based company ClassWallet raised alarm among lawmakers from both parties. The funds were earmarked for the Education Savings Account program, a voucher initiative that was later deemed unconstitutional by the courts. This demonstrates her poor judgment in handling taxpayer money and her inability to execute programs that serve the best interests of children, particularly those from underserved communities.

Schwinn’s mismanagement extended beyond financial issues. She garnered harsh criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee for her attempt to implement a controversial well-being check program that would have sent people to children’s homes to inquire about their welfare. The program was rightly seen as an overreach by the state government, and it was ultimately canceled after significant public outcry. This proposed program exemplifies Schwinn’s disregard for the privacy and rights of families.

Schwinn’s actions in the field of education have also exposed Tennessee students to potentially harmful content. Under her leadership, Tennessee children were subjected to explicit, pornographic, and antisemitic material in public school libraries and curricula. These materials, which violated child indecency laws under TCA 38-17-901, offered no literary value and ultimately robbed children of both their innocence and the educational experience they deserve. Schwinn’s approval of Critical Race Theory (CRT), Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) content further aggravated parents, many of whom repeatedly requested the removal of these programs, to no avail.

In addition to her tenure in Tennessee, Schwinn’s recent actions at the University of Florida (UF) raise further red flags. Appointed as Vice President for PK-12 and Pre-Bachelors Programs in 2023, Schwinn’s leadership was marked by an ill-fated attempt to overhaul the P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School. Her proposal to create a selective admission process to raise the school’s rankings faced significant backlash from both local citizens and the city commission, and the plan ultimately failed. Moreover, her efforts to create K-12 charter schools across Florida in collaboration with UF President Ben Sasse were quickly discontinued due to a lack of support.

These events illustrate that Penny Schwinn is not the right choice to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education. Her track record of mismanagement, overreach, and disregard for parental input and child welfare speaks volumes about her suitability for this crucial position. We urge you to reconsider her nomination and select a candidate who will genuinely prioritize the interests of children, families, and the American education system.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We trust that you will make the right decision for the future of our nation’s education system.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

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