Nichols School Names Peter Behr Next Head of School

Nichols School announced today that Peter J. Behr will be its 15th head of school, effective July 5, 2027. Behr currently serves as associate head of school at The Kinkaid School in Houston.

Behr brings 17 years of independent school leadership experience in senior administrative roles, including the past decade in increasingly senior positions at The Kinkaid School. A scientist by training, he holds a master’s degree in biology from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in marine science and biology from the University of Miami, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Honors Program in Marine and Atmospheric Science. 

While at Kinkaid, he helped guide a multi-phase campus transformation that included a new Upper School building and renovations across every division, led the creation and development of three new academic centers dedicated to developing student leaders, and has been an active partner in the school’s major capital campaign. Prior to Kinkaid, he served as head of upper school at Louisville Collegiate School in Kentucky, where he stabilized and grew enrollment in a competitive market with strong public and parochial alternatives. He is known for his commitment to academic excellence and for embracing innovation while honoring the traditions that make a school special. 

“Peter is an accomplished educator and leader who understands that a great school is built on its people,” said Andrew Fors, chair of the Nichols Board of Trustees. “He respects the traditions that define Nichols, embraces the ideas that will carry us forward, and puts our students, faculty, and staff at the center of everything he does. We are confident he is the right person to lead Nichols into its next chapter.”

Behr has long been connected to Buffalo and to Nichols. He is a Kenmore, N.Y., native, attended a summer camp at Nichols, which he credits with helping shape his understanding of educational excellence, and still has family in Buffalo, where he visits often. 

“Nichols has a remarkable legacy and an even brighter future,” said Behr. “Nichols is a school where students are known, challenged, and cared for. I am honored to join this proud community of students, teachers, families, and alumni, and my family and I look forward to getting to know the people who make this school what it is. I’m excited to return home and get started.”

Nichols is a leader in independent school education in Western New York and was recently ranked the No. 1 private high school in Buffalo by Niche. Behr will build on that standing as the school continues to deliver an outstanding academic and co-curricular experience for students in grades 5–12.