About Andrea

Andrea McElroy is a dedicated mother, accomplished businesswoman, and wife to her husband, Thom. She has a daughter and two bonus sons, all of whom attended NMUSD schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. A lifelong resident of Orange County, Andrea grew up in Huntington Beach and has called Newport Beach home for the past 23 years.

Andrea has built an impressive career in both corporate and entrepreneurial ventures. At just 25 years old, she secured a highly competitive position at Microsoft, beating out nearly 2,000 applicants to become one of only 13 people hired to design and promote advertising for the company’s websites at the dawn of the internet era. Over the next six years, she played a key role in shaping digital advertising strategies during the dot-com boom. Following her tenure at Microsoft, Andrea pursued her entrepreneurial passions, owning and operating for 20 years, The Paper House, a beloved retail store in Newport Beach. She is recently the creator of Flair Play, an activewear brand dedicated to empowering women through innovative, stylish performance apparel.

Throughout her child’s education, Andrea has been deeply involved in the school community. Recognizing her daughter’s early passion for singing and acting—as well as her challenges with math—Andrea devoted significant time to supporting both areas. She served as the parent volunteer organizer for school theater productions throughout her daughter’s elementary years while also working closely with students struggling in math. As her daughter progressed to high school, Andrea continued her involvement by supporting the Drama Department at Newport Harbor and Estancia High Schools and serving as the Tennis Team Mom for NHHS.

Education is a priority for the entire McElroy family. Thom, leveraging his background in surfing, volunteered as the Newport Harbor High School surf coach and has been a mentor in the school’s student mentoring program since its inception.

Andrea is a proud graduate of San Diego State University (SDSU) and remains actively engaged with her alma mater. She and her husband have served and supported university boards and committees, including the Directors Cabinet and Athletics Committee. Additionally, played a key role in shaping SDSU’s branding efforts, contributing to the development of the university’s tagline, Transform Your Tomorrow. Passionate about higher education, Andrea has helped foster early college awareness by connecting elementary school students with SDSU programs—planting the seed for future academic aspirations.

As a parent whose children have successfully navigated the education system and beyond, Andrea brings valuable insight and guiding principles that she believes are essential for all students:

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

BE WILLING TO TAKE RISKS