Conservatives are sounding the alarm about Penny Schwinn, President Donald Trump's choice for Deputy Secretary of Education, hoping to change his mind over what they call her support for many of the very "woke" policies the newly-returned president spent his first day in office reversing, a characterization disputed by defenders.

"Penny has a strong record of delivering results for children and families," Trump said of the former Tennessee education commissioner in his Truth Social announcement. "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."

Education Week praised Schwinn for having "extensive experience in K-12 education," noting she is a "strong supporter of school choice." In 2021, she said she was committed to enforcing state law prohibiting ideological indoctrination in the classroom, writing that "recent legislation tasked TDOE with building a framework to prevent propaganda like critical race theory from being taught in Tennessee classrooms […] We acknowledge the challenges that exist in balancing the state's current process for curricula approval but are committed to enforcing the CRT law as the legislature designed it." 

However, several conservative activists, including individuals who have been largely favorable toward Trump, have spoken out to urge him to withdraw Schwinn's nomination, citing her past declaration of "equity" as her core value and support for race-based hiring to "diversify" the teacher pool, and more.

President Trump needs the full story on Penny Schwinn's education history in TN. I really hope he reconsiders her nomination.

Penny says her core value is "Equity for all… no matter what." On her watch TN's Department of Education even embraced DEI for hiring teachers. She may… pic.twitter.com/hUIFV8sC6f

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 19, 2025