North Andover's Alissa Koenig Enters School Committee Race

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Alissa Koenig has announced that she is running for a seat on the North Andover School Committee and said she has no agenda other than being an advocate for children, parents and community members.

"I simply want to bring my advocacy skills and unique perspective as a parent to help make our school system better," Koenig said in a recent release announcing her candidacy. "I bring no predetermined opinion or ideology to the school committee table."

Koenig added: "The role of a school committee member is to advocate for children. It is not a place for culture wars or a forum for anything other than the single obligation to make our schools better."

Koenig is a long-time civil ligation attorney, a current employee at Murphy Law Group in Andover, a law school educator and a parent of four, who is running for one of two open seats on the committee. The seats are in play because the terms of Holly Vietzke-Lynch and Helen Pickard are set to expire. The election is scheduled for March 28.

Dave Brown also recently announced his candidacy for a seat the committee.

Koenig, who lives in North Andover with her partner Ryan, has had two children graduate from North Andover High School, another child is in first grade and a fourth child is due to enter the school system in a few years.

"As a parent to four children, I have a unique, wide-ranged perspective of our district that few are afforded. It will readily aid in my ability to advocate for all our children from kindergarten through high school," Koenig said.

Koenig said she has been a school volunteer, coached youths ports like cheerleading, soccer and t-ball, and is a former Girl Scout leader.

Professionally, in addition to being an attorney, Koenig is an adjunct faculty member at New England Law in Boston, where she teaches Legal Research & Writing to first-year law students.

Koenig said she also has volunteered for nonprofit legal organizations in Boston and Cambridge, advocating for the legal rights of those with limited financial means.

Koenig also is a current member of the North Andover Planning Board.

A graduate of University of West Florida with a degree in legal studies, Koenig earned her law degree from New England Law.