In 1994, a group of concerned Potter County
residents and businesses, along with the help of then-State
Senator John Peterson, organized the Potter County Education
Council as a private, non-profit organization. One of the goals
of the PCEC in it’s earliest planning stages was, as stated
by supporter Ron Barckhoff, “To give local residents the
opportunity to improve their skills and broaden their interests
without having to leave the area or give up their present
jobs.”
The PCEC joined four other
Community Education Councils, each one representing a rural,
underserved area of the
Commonwealth. |
Since it’s modest beginnings sharing an
office with Adelphia on West Street in Coudersport, under the
direction of Executive Director Helene Nawrocki, hired in 1995,
the PCEC has rapidly grown and evolved. The office in
Coudersport is now located at 227 North Main Street in the Penn
York Building and has not only office space but also a computer
lab, ITV setup, A+/N+ computer lab, as well as classroom and
meeting space.
In 1998, the PCEC
expanded to a second site in Galeton. The Galeton office,
located 20 Bridge Street,
encompasses a computer lab, ITV setup and
office, meeting, and classroom space. |
In 2005, the PCEC expanded once again with the
addition of our third office site in Port Allegany, PA - the
PCEC Port Allegany Education Center. This expansion will allow
us to make our educational services convenient to even more area
residents.
With the
assistance and support of local business and community
leaders as well as Commonwealth and Federal Congressional leaders, the PCEC looks forward to many more years of
serving area residents. |