About Peter Kalbfleisch
With more than two decades of experience working in education, Peter Kalbfleisch is known for his leadership as both an educator and more recently as an administrator with a demonstrated background in team building, curriculum development, and public speaking. Peter is committed to creating space where both teachers and students can show up as their true selves each day.
Peter graduated from McMaster University in 1993 before earning a Diploma in Education from the University of Canberra in 1999.
Before his tenure with the Waterloo Region District School Board, he served as the Vice Principal of Waterloo Oxford District Secondary School between 2017 and 2019. Between 2012 and 2017, he had the privilege to serve as the program head for the Fast Forward program at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School. The Fast Forward program provides meaningful support to those students who would normally struggle with academics. There, he provided additional learning opportunities for staff and enhanced student life by fostering success through opportunities and participation.
For 4 years, beginning in 1999, Peter Kalbfleisch was a science, special education, physical education, and math teacher at University Heights for 4 years until its closure. University Heights was a school designed to meet the needs of vocational style learners. His deep commitment to students of need, and at-risk learners was established here at University Heights. He also served as student council lead teacher, coach and student activity director there.
In 2004, Sir John A Macdonald opened as University Heights closed. Peter was selected to become the student activity director at the new school to provide leadership to student council and all areas of student activities. He was also the chair of Inter-City Athletics, a program geared towards Fast Forward (a program for students to fast forward to the world of work) students which allows them to compete athletically with other schools who had similar programs. In addition, he served as the chair of Charity Begins at Home, a program that raised money for lower-income students in order to remove barriers and provide equal opportunities in all of the experiences that high school has to offer.
Outside of his career, Peter is actively involved in several charitable organizations and sports activities, primarily focused on the community within the Waterloo region.
One charitable initiative Peter has been particularly involved in is KW Legacy, a grassroots organization that provides scholarships to students who show leadership potential, and an organization that Peter helped co-found. KW Legacy’s scholarships are given out each year to Waterloo Region and Waterloo Catholic Secondary students and are the largest scholarships provided to Waterloo region high schools.
Peter currently serves on the advisory board of KW Legacy, where he provides strategic support, creates bylaws, and manages annual meetings with shareholders.
Also as part of the work with KW Legacy, Peter helped raise $800,000 in scholarships through Golf For Scholarships, a program that hosts charitable golf tournaments. Additionally through KW Legacy, Peter helped host a fundraiser called Top Home Chef, a charitable event where 50 home chefs compete to win the Top Home Chef Honours. Peter also helped raise $150,000 for the Waterloo Suicide Prevention Council (WRSPC) through this initiative.
Beyond his professional and philanthropic activities, Peter is a family-oriented father, husband, and son who enjoys multiple sports and stays active in the community. He also enjoys several outdoor activities, ranging from biking, and hiking, to paddling, and more.
When he isn’t busy being active, Peter Kalbfleisch enjoys one of his artisanal home-brewed craft beers with his cherished community friends of 40 years. He also enjoys growing and jarring his own vegetables and jams.
