NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A joint convention of the School Committee and City Council on Tuesday unanimously elected Alexandra DiAddezio to fill the vacant seat on the committee. 

 

DiAddezio described herself as an "ardent public school advocate" who worked as an English teacher and college counselor at a high school in the Bronx, N.Y. She holds masters' degrees in English secondary education and in mental health counseling, and now works as therapist for students at Williams College.

 

"I'm passionate about service and collaboration, and would really be eager to bring that energy into the North Adams School Committee," she said, adding that she will have two children in the school system.

 

"I also noticed a growing number of folks in the community choosing to leave the public school system for alternative options, and I'm really eager to join in the work of attracting families to stay."

 

She said she'd been thinking about how she could serve, but was unsure about running in an election. Seeing this opening, she said, "felt like something serendipitous."

 

The last School Committee member elected this way was Alyssa Tomkowicz in 2023. 

 

DiAddezio and fellow candidates Jackie DeGiorgis, Kayla Sullivan-Lane and Eric Wilson presented their reasons why they would be the best candidate to replace the departed Richard Alcombright.