AUSTIN – Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath today released the following statement after it was announced that current TEA Chief Deputy Commissioner of Academics Penny Schwinn has been appointed by Tennessee Governor-elect Bill Lee to serve as his state’s new Commissioner of Education: 

“Governor-elect Bill Lee has made an outstanding choice with Penny’s appointment as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education. She has a tremendous in-depth understanding of public education and the ability to build an outstanding team of individuals dedicated to carrying out the mission of enhancing student achievement. Her expertise as a former teacher, school board member, and district assistant superintendent demonstrates a strong desire to see student outcomes improve. Penny’s leadership as TEA’s Chief Deputy Commissioner of Academics has led to considerable improvements in the way we deliver education to Texas’ 5.4 million school children, and I wish her all the best as she embarks on this new journey to improve the lives and educational outcomes for students in Tennessee.”

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