Texas Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year ~ Sheila Kolb, PSHS
March 4, 2008
 Sheila Kolb, Plano Senior High School, was honored with the "Tom Norris Texas Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year Award," presented by Senator Florence Shapiro at the state tournament awards ceremony held on March 2 at the Marriott Plano at Legacy Town Center. Ms. Kolb was honored for 24 years of service to the Academic Decathlon program at Plano Senior High School.
Sheila Kolb (right) is pictured with Bill Borowicz, fellow coach, and Roxanne Burleson, central cluster assistant superintendent.
At the awards ceremony, Senator Shapiro announced Ms. Kolb's surprise award to an audience of more than 1,000 guests, including 40 student teams, their coaches, family and friends and several school administrators.
"The Academic Decathlon is dedicated to the goal of strengthening the academic capabilities of our young people," explained Senator Shapiro. "Our students do not accomplish this alone. There are many coaches who devote countless hours to supporting these student competitors.
"I am pleased to reveal to you the recipient of the 2008 Tom Norris Texas Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year. A former student of this coach describes her as 'determined.'
Plano ISD Academic Decathlon Coaches (l-r)
Jan Molepske and Rex Howard, Plano East Senior High School
Bill Borowicz and Sheila Kolb, Plano Senior High School
Bill Stone and Shawn Coryell, Plano West Senior High School
Senator Shapiro continued, "For 24 years of coaching, her determination each year to teach, guide and inspire a group of nine bright teenagers in itself has already been quite remarkable. Not to mention the fact, that the countless hours she spends on the team are merely considered part of her free time—an extracurricular activity that she balances with teaching honors and AP Physics.
"Her determination has held strong through these past decades
despite several unfortunate events. As if falling and breaking
her leg on multiple occasions was not enough, she has suffered
through a traumatic illness with continual relapses that still haunt her to this day.
Through it all, her dedication to each and every Ac Dec team has
been unwavering. She is determined to provide the best that
she can to these wide-eyed, hopeful groups of young adults. No
matter what the resulting scores ever were, she made sure that her
teams tried their best with no regrets."
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