St. Benedict Education Center (SBEC) was founded in 1988 by the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. Through a contract with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, SBEC operates the EARN (Employment Advancement and Retention Network) program. This program is designed to provide training, skill development and employment opportunities to participants who are currently on TANF. All referrals must come through the County Assistance Office.

SBEC is a partner with the Northwest PA JobConnect, previously known as the Northwest PA Workforce Development Area. Through this partnership participants are also able to easily access programming through the PA CareerLink system.

SBEC also partners with the Northwest Tri County Intermediate Unit, who conducts adult literacy and GED prep classes both for our participants and for others in the community who sign up with them.

Benedictine Oblate Nancy Sabol is the Executive Director of SBEC since December 2014. Nancy previously worked at Gannondale, a private residential center for adolescent females, for 30 years, the last 10 as Executive Director. Recognized throughout the State of Pennsylvania as an advocate for at-risk youth, she was a board member of the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services. Her strong belief in social justice, strengthened by her ties to communities of women religious, solidified her desire to continue to serve the marginalized at SBEC.

Nancy holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology and she is an associate member of the American Psychological Association. She also serves as a Peer Reviewer for the Standards of Excellence for the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations (PANO).