Harold (Jay) Colsch attended Union Prairie #2, a one-room country schoolhouse, from 1961-1967 prior to the consolidation of all country schools in Allamakee County.  After 3 years of “tracking” at Waukon Junior High, he attended Waukon Senior High School and graduated in 1974.

As one of thirteen children, he received an Iowa Tuition Grant and was offered a scholarship to Loras College.    In 1979, he graduated cum laude from Loras with a B.A. in Sociology and a secondary teaching certificate.

After spending a year taking graduate courses and working at Area Residential Care in Dubuque, Jay took a job working as a counselor at Wyalusing Academy in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.  In 1981, he chose to pursue a Master’s Degree in Special Education from the University of Iowa.

In 1982, Jay returned to his hometown where he spent 5 years as a resource teacher and wrestling coach at Waukon Junior High, then Waukon Senior High School.

In 1987, Jay moved to Waterloo where he began working for AEA 7 as a special education teacher at West High School.  In 1988, he moved his family to Waverly after transferring into the position of AEA 7 Work Experience Coordinator at Waverly-Shell Rock High School.

In 1990, Jay began working as an itinerant Work Experience Coordinator serving Waverly-Shell Rock, Dike-New Hartford, Nashua-Plainfield, and Tripoli Community School District.  In 1995, Jay became a special education consultant serving many of the same districts.

In 2001, Jay was named coordinator of AEA 7 special education services in Waterloo, Dunkerton, Jesup and East Buchanan.  Following the merger of AEA 2, AEA 6 and AEA 7, Jay was named coordinator of AEA 267 special education services for Charles City and 8 surrounding districts.

Presently, Jay collaborates with Judy Moser to coordinate AEA 267 special education support services in 15 school districts between Cedar Falls and the Minnesota border.  In this capacity, he supervises school psychologists, consultants, social workers, work experience coordinators, occupational therapists, COTAs, physical therapists, early childhood special education teachers, speech/language pathologists, speech/language assistants, and itinerant teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing.

From 1987-2003, Jay earned 66 graduate credits from the University of Northern Iowa in pursuit of an Advanced Studies Certificate (ASC) in Educational Administration and an Advanced Studies Certificate in Special Education Administration.

Jay and his wife, Patricia, have 5 children and 2 grandchildren.  Jay serves on the Board of Directors for The Larrabee Center and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus.  During his free time, he enjoys softball, bowling, golf, jogging, and playing scrabble.