Williams brings more than a decade of experience as a teacher, administrator and community leader

VANCOUVER – The Evergreen Public School Board of Directors has appointed Willie Williams III as the Director for District 4. By a 4-0 count in a second round of voting at Tuesday’s board meeting, the Board chose Williams from a group of five finalists.

Williams brings more than a decade of experience as a teacher, administrator and community leader. The parent of children who attend multiple levels of EPS schools, he currently serves as director of the Grice-Adair Center for Educational Excellence in Portland Public Schools.

“I am dedicated to elevating student voice, strengthening systems, and ensuring that every student has access to a high quality, inclusive education,” he wrote in his application.

With the appointment, which came after a nearly three-month process, the Board will again have a full five members. It had been working with four members since the March 2 resignation of Jacqueline Weatherspoon, who had served on the board since she was appointed to fill a vacancy in March 2022 and remained in the role by winning election 2023.

Williams will be sworn at the June 9 Board meeting. He will serve the remainder of the position’s term until the end of 2027, and the position will be filled by voters during the general election on November 2, 2027.

The Board received 17 letters of interest from potential board members, and nine applied for the position. The Board selected five finalists who participated in a public interview on May 19.

About Evergreen Public Schools: With about 22,000 students in 38 schools in the city of Vancouver, Evergreen Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Washington. The district was founded in 1945, when nine schools from eight different districts came together.