Marshall Peter is the founding and former Director of CADRE (1998 - 2015). Peter’s background as a special educator and parent/parent advocate contributed to CADRE’s success at becoming mutually trusted by national leaders from the special education and advocacy communities. Peter has provided training and consultation throughout the United States on topics including collaborative problem-solving, facilitative advocacy, consumer empowerment, and conflict resolution system design.
After receiving an M.S. in Special Education from the University of Oregon, Peter worked as a substitute teacher with students who had emotional/behavioral disorders. In 1976, he began working at Direction Service, a multi-program family support agency, where he provided ongoing support and advocacy services to more than 500 families who have children with disabilities. In 1983, he became the organization’s Executive Director. Peter's early work as an aggressive advocate evolved into an interest in developing methods for facilitating home/school partnerships that are respectful, considerate and yield powerful results. From 1992-1996 Peter directed a successful, USDOE funded project that field tested a conciliation model aimed at addressing the cultural barriers that interfere with the effective utilization of special education services.
Peter served on the City of Eugene Human Rights Commission, the Oregon State Advisory Council for Special Education, the Oregon Disabilities Commission, and as Chair of the Eugene School District Equity Committee. He has received numerous awards including the “R. Elwood Pace Humanitarian Award” presented by NASDSE, the “National Public Service Award” presented by the University of Oregon College of Education, and the “Distinguished Service Award” presented by the Oregon Disabilities Commission. Peter was designated a United Nations International Human Rights Day “Hometown Hero” by the Eugene Human Rights Commission.