Today, TDOE Commissioner Visits White House to Discuss School Reopening

NASHVILLE, TN— Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Dr. Penny Schwinn has been invited by President Donald Trump to join him, Vice President Mike Pence, and other federal leaders at the White House today to discuss school reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Commissioner Schwinn and Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey have both been invited as guests of the President to join a meeting to discuss work happening across Tennessee to keep students safe and learning in the upcoming school year. 

“It is an incredible honor to represent the hard work happening in our state and our districts at the White House today,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Tennessee educators have come together to support kids during this pandemic and are now focused on reopening schools, and I am thrilled for this opportunity to discuss this critical, ongoing work with the president.” 

In the past three months, the Tennessee Department of Education has launched partnerships and resources to support districts, students and families during the pandemic and into the new school year.  

This includes a PBS Summer Learning series and STE(A)M Resource Hub; free professional development for all teachers on digital learning and for principals for leading well in the new COVID-19 environment; the Child Well-Being Task Force to empower local communities to meaningfully engage in ways that support child wellbeing; free and optional innovative assessment supports; 7 million dollars in grant funds to support students with special needs; and more than 25 Reopening toolkits and guidance documents, available on the department’s reopening guidance webpage: https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus/reopening-guidance.html.