Julia Kolat honored at retirement party
other well-wishers gathered to honor long-time educator Julia Kolat during a retirement dinner at the Coudersport Golf Club.

Julia Kolat, right, opens gifts while her longtime colleague and friend Pat Denniston entertains the crowd.

A resident of Coudersport, Miss Kolat was a classroom teacher at Austin Area School District for many years. Most recently, she served as an instructional support/pre-referral screening teacher.

A graduate of Coudersport High School, Miss Kolat earned a bachelor's degree from Mansfield State Teachers' College. She later obtained a master's degree from Penn State University.

Prior to arriving at Austin Area School, she taught at Lower Paxton Township near Harrisburg and for the Department of Defense in Germany.

During her career, Miss Kolat received many honors, including Teacher of the Year in the Austin Area School District. The Potter-Tioga Chapter of the Pa. Assn. of School Retirees recognized her with its first Lauretta Woodson award, in recognition of her unselfish dedication and exemplary service.

Students also chose to honor Miss Kolat by dedicating the 2002 high school yearbook to her.

Over the years, she played a faculty leadership role by serving on professional development, strategic planning and student assistant program committees. She served as a mentor for numerous teachers and was active in the PTO/PTA organization. She also chaired the Box Tops for Education Program, which generated revenue for the purchase of classroom equipment.