Patricia McKee’s life and career is driven by a foundational belief in people and a commitment to what they can accomplish if they are supported, developed and cared for in building strong communities, pursuing justice and living into their values.
Patricia has served as an executive coach for non-profit executives and school leaders and has led organizational culture and change management efforts across multiple organizations. Prior to joining Holdsworth, Patricia worked as an independent contractor and at OneGoal, a nonprofit working to create a world where all students can earn a college degree and define their future.
Patricia began her career as a middle school special education teacher in Philadelphia. She considers herself an educator first and believes classrooms and schools are sacred spaces that belong at the heart of a thriving community and society.
A Midwest native, Patricia spent close to a decade leading and coaching teachers in Teach For America’s Chicago-Northwest Indiana and Twin Cities regions. She helped launch and lead TFA’s early childhood education and special education programs in Chicago, including working with university partners and the Illinois state legislature to design the state’s first alternative certification program in special education. It was in these experiences that she developed her passions for coaching, adult learning, organizational development and culture.
Patricia earned bachelor’s degrees in English and secondary education and a master’s degree in special education from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband Ben and their cat Scarlett. Patricia loves reading, music and outdoor activities. She’s working to master the art of gardening and does her best to keep her herb plants alive indoors through the Minnesota winter.