About me
Pat Savage-Williams is currently the President of the Evanston Township High School Board of Education. She was first elected to serve on the Board at Evanston Township High School in 2013. She was re-elected in 2017, 2021 and 2025. Professionally, Pat worked at New Trier High School in Winnetka Illinois, as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator. She is an Affiliate of the Pacific Educational Group, (PEG) and facilitates Beyond Diversity at New Trier and within the Evanston Community. She is a certified SEED facilitator (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) and each summer, she serves on the National SEED Staff to train and certify new SEED facilitators from across the country. Pat’s passion for equity work is part of her identity. Pat has worked as an educator for more than 40 years. She started her career as a School Psychologist after receiving her BA and MS degrees from Indiana University in Educational Psychology. She later attended National-Louis University for a degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. Pat is aware that as an African American woman, in her role as a PEG Affiliate, certified SEED facilitator and School Board President she has the power to advance the equity work within communities to assure that teachers and community members understand the importance of racial equity. Pat recognizes that it is her responsibility to identify policies and practices that are in place that perpetuate racial disparities within the school and community. This focus on racial equity serves to increase awareness of systemic barriers that disadvantage students of color. She models racial equity leadership within her local community, state and nationally. To that end, Pat wrote an article for the Illinois School Board Journal (March/April 2018 edition and renewed for the September/October 2020 edition) titled “Promoting Racial Equity in Schools: 10 Ways School Boards Can Champion Racial Equity”. This article was reprinted in the Wisconsin Association of School Boards Journal, Wisconsin School News, and the Ohio School Board Association Journal. She was also the 2018 recipient of The Pacific Educational Group Community Empowerment Award. Throughout her career, Pat has worked closely with dedicated school administrators, teaching staff and parents toward the common goal: to achieve academic excellence for all students. Pat believes that providing a solid education is the greatest gift we can give to our children. She brings her perspective as an African American woman, parent, and educator to all aspects of her life. She believes that every student has the right to an education that enhances individual strengths, improves weaknesses, and fosters confidence and self-esteem. Pat’s highest priority is to meet the needs of all students within her school community and to prepare all students to effectively participate in the global society that awaits them.
