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Family Advocate

Longtime Head Of Local Learning Council To Retire

Rosary Kolivas will retire in August from a position she’s held for almost 30 years. Kolivas has served as the executive director of the Jamestown Community Learning Council since 1990. Pictured is Kolivas inside the JCLC office housed inside the former Rogers Elementary School. Submitted photo

For the last 29 years, Rosary Kolivas has come to think of her staff at the Jamestown Community Learning Council as her second family. But it was her first family that was a deciding factor in retiring as executive director.

“Why am I retiring?” Kolivas asked herself. “Sometimes I think that’s a good question because I love what I do.”

JCLC has served the region for almost three decades as an educational outreach agency primarily tailored toward families outside the classroom. And practically since its inception, Kolivas has been at the helm.

Staring at photos of her staff inside the JCLC office within the former Rogers Elementary School building, she reminded herself to “think about those children.” Kolivas was referring to her grandchildren, who she intends on spending much more time with when she officially retires Aug. 30. But while glancing at photos of her second family and their families, she became slightly emotional.

Kolivas likened her role building the JCLC to raising a child. She tried her best, gave it her all, but eventually she has to let it go, Kolivas said.

Kolivas pictured inside JCLC’s new office at Washington Middle School where she will work until her retirement is official Aug. 30. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

“You just sort of know that it’s time,” she said. “I wanted to leave when I felt really good and still love what I do. I didn’t want to be one of those people that was counting every minute until I was out the door.”

Kolivas feels that the organization is at a high point and experiencing a “growth explosion,” as she described it. While admitting to feeling a bit of sadness as she exits JCLC during an “exciting time,” she was confident in what her successor will be able to accomplish.

JCLC announced that Krista Camarata will take over as executive director later this summer. However, there will be a transitionary period where Kolivas will be working alongside her successor before officially passing the torch.

Kolivas began with JCLC shortly after it was created in 1990 as an administrative assistant. Following the departure of the original executive director, Kolivas assumed the role shortly after. Beginning with two employees, JCLC now employs 39 individuals.

“In my opinion, she is our community’s No. 1 family advocate and will be sorely missed in her retirement,” said Deke Kathman, former Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, who worked with Kolivas during JCLC’s beginnings.

The agency was the result of a community study survey initiated by the now defunct Joint Foundations Group. The study identified subgroups to address needs within Jamestown. One group named the Educational Task Force was formed to study different models and research regarding education intervention.

The task force reached the conclusion that a student’s interest and success in education was often determined at an early age and are heavily influenced by factors outside of the classroom. The community school model was preferred and JCLC was created.

The goal was to reach students outside of the classroom while engaging the family members of students too, Kolivas said.

Kolivas was instrumental in implementing the agency’s first programs LINC (Learning Is Never Complete), an after school program at Lincoln Elementary School, and PACT (Parents And Children Together) that offered additional learning for students and parents at Ring Elementary School. Both programs are still in place today.

Around 2000, the Parent As Teachers program, or PAT, was introduced. For Kolivas, PAT is the most “significant” program that JCLC brought to Jamestown. While beginning in Jamestown, the PAT program has expanded to six local school districts with the capacity to engage 11 by next school year. PAT, by the fall, will be serving the Jamestown, Southwestern, Frewsburg, Brocton, Dunkirk and Silver Creek school districts.

Kolivas emphasized JPS’ role in jumpstarting the program as it was the first district to work with JCLC.

“She has been the face of JCLC for the life of the agency and is admired and well respected not only by her staff but also throughout the community. She is a true professional in every sense of the word,” said Karen Mason, a JCLC home visitor.

The PAT program sends JCLC home visitors to offer intervention education within students’ homes. The parents and siblings of the targeted student are also engaged in education. PAT currently services 378 households.

Kolivas reminisced on her career inside the Rogers office space where she’s known as “Queen Bee.” The office was filled with boxes as JCLC is currently relocating to Washington Middle School. Rogers is currently being transformed into the JPS Success Academy, which Kolivas said JCLC will have a role with.

“I’ve been on the board for several years now and Rosary’s efficiencies and effectiveness are just unparalleled,” said Jason Stronz, JCLC board of trustees president. “She built JCLC to what it is. They way she nurtured an environment of team work is what every nonprofit executive director should aspire to do. Her retiring is certainly going to be a big loss to our organization.”

Perched in her chair below images and paintings with inspirational messages, Kolivas attempted to define the legacy of JCLC and her own.

For the organization’s legacy, Kolivas said it would have to be the relationships that have been created with families and community partners. She also praised agency’s staff members who have allowed the organization to flourish.

Asked what she’ll miss most when she’s finally not sitting in the executive director chair, her answer was simple: “The staff and the families that we serve.”

Despite describing the current status of JCLC of being at its pinnacle, the draw of seeing her four grandchildren more solidified her decision to step away.

In retirement, while admitting she’s going to take a “breather,” she does not envision herself “fading into the sunset.”

“I see myself being involved in the community,” Kolivas, the director of JCLC for the last 29 years, said about her retirement plans.

In her office, described by Kolivas as a second home and a sanctuary, in the closing months of her career, she remained proud of the achievements JCLC accomplished with almost three decades worth of work.

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