Potter County Education Council: Working for a brighter tomorrow
Potter & McKean County | Dark Skies & Allegheny National Forest Landscape of the PA Wilds
If your community in Potter or McKean County has an educational need, then the Potter County Education Council may be your solution. The Potter County Education Council is located in the Dark Skies and the Allegheny National Forest and Surrounds landscapes of the PA Wilds region. This non-profit organization has offered hundreds of courses, having served more than 15,000 students in the region since 1995. Their wide array of programs, services, and resources are funded through grants, local partnerships, and generous donations.
The Potter County Education Council (PCEC) is there to help you achieve your dreams and goals whether it’s attending school for an exciting new career or just wanting to learn a new skill. They have a variety of classroom types to fit different needs, one way they can support your efforts is through online courses. Partnering with ed2go, the PCEC is able to offer a wide range of highly interactive courses taken entirely over the Internet. Another educational opportunity is through PCEC’s partnership with Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) to provide five associate degree programs.
The PCEC offers youth programs through their Career Mentor Program. This program serves seven school districts in Potter and McKean counties, and assists school counselors with career activities for grades K-12. Another opportunity for kids is their Career Exploration Camps which are designed to expose youth in grades 4-9 to various career opportunities in the region, free of charge.
Adults looking for additional support can also take advantage of career development resources and certifications through PCEC. They offer customized training needs assessment and a variety of educational programs for your specific business or industry. There are also courses offered to help area residents improve or develop job skills for their existing jobs or in preparation for a new career. If there is a high demand for a program, the PCEC will work with their educational partners to deliver the coursework locally. Both PCEC offices are authorized Pearson VUE test centers and offer a wide variety of certification tests.
The programs and services provided by the PCEC are for personal enrichment also. One such opportunity is the Seniors to Seniors Program. It is a program where senior citizens can learn basic technology and be supported by local high school students, who are tech savvy.
The Education Council is also devoted to the youngest of learners. The PCEC’s Early Learning Team’s mission is to provide parents and families in Potter County information and resources to enhance the learning and development of their young children (birth-5 years). They are also a local affiliate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program gives enrolled children under 5 years old a free book each month, and is available to residents in eight school districts in both Potter and McKean counties.
The rural areas of the PA Wilds are rich in natural resources and through the Potter County Education Council there is also an abundance of educational resources. The organization is living out its mission to assist regional residents in their pursuit of lifelong learning.
