Uncrowned Community Builders

Florence Johnson is a graduate of Buffalo State College and holds a B.S. in Exceptional Education and Elementary Education as well as M.S. in Education. She served as project director for Student Support Services at Buffalo State College. In this role, she monitored the academic progress of 200 students who meet the criteria for low-income and first-generation attending a four-year college. Ms. Johnson established a "Summer Bridge Program" specifically designed to help in the retention of first-year students at Buffalo State College.

As Chair of the National Council of Urban Boards of Education, Florence D. Johnson was a member and former president of the City of Buffalo Board of Education. She served for 25 years. She chaired the strategic planning committee for the Buffalo Board and was its delegate to the Federal Network Advocacy Association. She served on the Board of Directors of the National School Boards Association and in 1999 served as vice chair of the National Council of Urban Boards of Education.

Listed in Who's Who in American Education, Ms. Johnson is the recipient of numerous awards for her work in education. She has been honored with the Jayne Kadey Award for Teaching Excellence; the Buffalo State College President's Award for Excellence; the New York State Governor's Award for African Americans of Distinction; the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Edgar A. Love Scholarship Award; and the Education Award from the National Conference of Christian and Jews. She was selected to serve on the New York State Commissioner of Education's Advisory Board and served on the Council of Great City Schools representing the Buffalo Board of Education.

She was also an enthusiastic board member of the Olmsted Park Conservancy and First Vice Chair of the Hamlin Park Taxpayers & Community Association. Among her many honors for her career include Buffalo Spree Magazine's 2006 listing as one of the Ten Most Powerful Western New York Women.

Ms. Johnson has been an active member of the Calvary Baptist Church for 45 years. During this period, she served as Director of Christian Education, teacher of the Sunday School Department, and worked in the Outreach Mission for the EPIC Board to disseminate information to teenage parents on effective parenting. She serves as a member of the Calvary Adult Choir and received the Network of Religious Communities Award - Inter-Religious Ecumenical Award. Ms. Johnson was married to Mr. George Johnson and has two sons, George, Jr., and Isaac.