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BIOGRAPHY:  Jan Peters

Jan Peters is executive director of the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. (BFNC). The BFNC is a not-for-profit human service corporation serving Buffalo and Erie County with diversified programs, activities and services for all age groups.

Ms. Peters came to the Neighborhood House Association in 1977. Peters successfully implemented the merger, in 1981, of two of the oldest "settlement houses" in the nation-the Westminster Community House and the Neighborhood House Association into the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. During her tenure she has been instrumental in the building of the operations from $400,000 to $6 million dollars annually by developing new programs and services.

The "settlement house" movement of the 19^th century included an active social advocacy and public policy component. It seemed a perfectly logical move for Jan to pursue advocacy in a public policy forum such as the school board.

And, in 1995 Ms. Peters was elected to the Buffalo School Board, representing the Central District. She was re-elected, without opposition, in 1998. She will run for office again in 2001.

Since her election, Jan has chaired several Board committees including Buildings and Grounds, Legislation, and CHOICE. She has also served as a member of the Budget and Audit Committee and is a designated representative of the Board of Education to the Joint Schools Construction Board, which will manage the construction of new schools in the district.

Jan's priorities have included:

Facility improvements, promotion of talented persons of color to important positions within the district, support of fair treatment of Superintendent Harris; Active involvement of parents in the educational process, Introduction of junior varsity sports to the district; Maintenance and financial support of varsity sports in the district; Support for the re-introduction of music, arts and physical education to the primary grades, Xtra Time/Xtra help funds for students experiencing academic difficulties; Support of the regents standards and improved academic performance of all students; retaining BVTC as a vocational school with an improved curriculum.

In her "quiet" manner, and supported by her colleagues on the Board, Jan was instrumental in having an Assistant Principal placed at Herman Badillo School for the first time, two computer teachers added to the staffing pattern at Buffalo Traditional School, naming of a public school in honor of Dr. Lydia T. Wright and the creation of the Parent Ombudsman function out of the Office of the Superintendent.

Over the past year, the CHOICE Committee, created with the purpose of expanding parental choice in the BPS district, and chaired by Jan, has developed a district data matrix, which will be available to the public, commissioned a poll to determine variables important to parents and the public in the BPS district, and, has prioritized areas for initiatives in 2001 that will enhance parental choice. Initiatives under discussion include changing school attendance zones, the revamping the district's student transfer policy, transportation from school to childcare/babysitting locations, five-year high school diplomas, and creating district operated charter schools and/or re-constituting existing poor performing schools.

Ms. Peters has been frequently cited for her active participation in the affairs of the Buffalo community. She has received numerous awards including: 1987 YMCA's Toast of Buffalo, 1988 Buffalo News' Citizen of the Year, 1991 YWCA Leadership, 1992 NCCJ Sisterhood and, 1994 Buffalo NAACP Human Relations.

Jan was born in Augsburg, Germany. She was adopted at age 8 and raised by loving parents, who were in the US Army. She as raised in Rome, New York where she attended public schools. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1968 from the University at Buffalo and received her Master's Degree in Urban Studies from Occidental College in 1975. IN 1974 she was selected as a National Urban Fellow and interned as executive assistant to Coleman Young, former Mayor of Detroit.

Ms. Peter's family resides in and about Grandview, Missouri. She, however, considers Buffalo her home, having been here since 1965.