Uncrowned Community Builders

Alvina Staley was born in Brewton, Alabama. She came to Buffalo at the age of two.

She attended School #65 and Riverside High School where she majored in General Business. Alvina continued her education at Erie County technical Institute (which is now Erie Community College - North) where she obtained an Associate in Applied Science Degree while majoring in Executive Secretarial Science. She attended night school at the University at Buffalo (Millard Fillmore College) where she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

Ms. Staley has been gainfully employed in various jobs in the clerical field at such companies as Western Electric, Concentrated Employment Program (CEP), Calspan, Westinghouse Electrical Company, and John W. Cowper Construction Company. With this wealth of clerical experience, she came to the Buffalo Board of Education as a Stenographer in 1981 and worked in two different departments. In 1982, Alvina landed a job in the Board Room as a Stenographer. In 1992, she was appointed by an unanimous vote as the first African American Secretary to the Board of Education. In 1998, she attended various sessions in Albany to obtain a certificate as the District Clerk in the Buffalo Board of Education System. Ms. Staley credits three people that played an instrumental role in her development in this position: Mrs. Mozella Richardson, Mr. John Doyle, and Mrs. Florence Johnson.

Her hobbies include attending church faithfully, doing missionary work, reading, and watching basketball. Ms. Staley is a faithful member of the True Bethel Baptist Church where she is working in the vineyards in the Singles Ministry and Missionary Ministry.

Ms. Staley is a single parent with a daughter, Keora, who attends Lafayette High School. She says she owes all her success to God Almighty whom she thanks and praises everyday. Her motivation was fostered by her mother who said, "Do the best you can do." Her mother also stressed to work hard at everything you do.

In her own words, "To God be the Glory. I say to anyone in any field you endeavor, Just be for real and God will do the rest."