Evergreen Public Schools board picks Willie Williams III to fill vacancy
May 27-The Evergreen Public Schools board appointed Willie Williams III to the District 4 seat, which has been vacant since Jacqueline Weatherspoon resigned in March.
The school board unanimously voted for Williams on the second round of balloting at Tuesday's meeting among a group of five finalists that also included Robin Bauman, Tanya English, Angelo Gonzales and Deb Swope.
Williams, a parent of multiple students in the district, brings an educational track record to the board as director of Portland Public Schools' Grice-Adair Center for Educational Excellence.
In his application, Williams said that he is "dedicated to elevating student voice, strengthening systems and ensuring that every student has access to a high quality, inclusive education."
After Superintendent Christine Moloney announced the 4-0 vote tally, Williams received a round of applause from community members in attendance and briefly spoke to the board. He will be sworn in during the June 9 meeting and serve the remainder of the term through the end of 2027. The seat will be on the ballot in the November 2027 general election.
"It's an honor, it's been a pleasure and I'm ready to get to work. I'm ready to do the work in bringing the district together," Williams said.
The selection marked the conclusion of a three-month process that began in March when Weatherspoon resigned from her post, citing personal reasons.
The remaining four board members reviewed applications during an April executive session and interviewed five finalists in a public forum on May 19. A total of nine people applied for the position.
Multiple board members said at Tuesday's meeting they walked away from the process impressed by the pool of candidates.
"I know that all of them have been working and volunteering in our district in some way ... and I hope they continue that effort because we need all of us to support our students and our communities," board Vice President Julie Bocanegra said.
Three finalists received at least one vote when board members submitted their first ballot. Because the board didn't have a majority for one candidate, members voted again after discussing their initial choices.
Williams garnered votes from Bocanegra and board member Ginny Gronwoldt, both emphasizing that Williams' background as an educator would bring an important perspective that the board doesn't currently have.
"One of the things that we have definitely missed on our board ... is not having an educational background within the five of us," Gronwoldt said. "A lot of the aspects of what we have been wanting here, which is equity, bringing the community, the student voice, bringing everybody together ... he has a lot of background in doing that."
After discussion, board President Rob Perkins and board member Gary Wilson flipped their votes to Williams in the second round of voting.
Prior to joining Portland Public Schools in 2020, Williams worked as a teacher in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.
Williams said his experience as a parent and educator gives him a dual perspective to understand and advocate for students, families and staff in the district.
"I am particularly passionate about ensuring that all students, especially those from historically underserved communities, have access to high-quality opportunities and the support needed to thrive," Williams said. "I am eager to bring a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to the board, grounded in data informed decision-making, community voice and a clear focus on continuous improvement."
Unlock all stories. Stay informed.
Starting at just $1.99/week
Become a subscriber and get unlimited access to every story, plus our ePaper and app for seamless reading anywhere. Stay informed, support local journalism, and stay connected to your community.
Subscribe today
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.