Lead Educator Position Description
Lead Educator Development Series
Join us every other month in a continuation of training, development, and conversation around the Lead Educator Role. We will be utilizing much of what we gathered in conversations during the 2021 Lead Educator Training to craft these sessions and make them timely/relevant for your roles. As we develop this series, let us know if you have questions or topic suggestions. We appreciate your active participation!
Lead Educator Resources
A. Local Point of Contact
Serve as the local point of contact for county and administrative communication in a designated county or group of counties.
B. Engage Local Elected and Departmental Officials
Build relationships and engage local elected and department officials individually and in partnership with the EZC. (Commissioners, Supervisors, County Clerk, Health Department, Emergency Management, etc.)
For assistance in connecting with your Senator or developing your story, contact your local Engagement Zone Coordinator and/or Jessie Brophy (jbrophy3@unl.edu)
Following all Senator engagement opportunities, please take a few moments to complete the following Legistlative Interactions Form.
C. Facilitate Local Extension Boards
Facilitate local Extension Board operations and communication. Support the Engagement Zone Coordinator in the development of leadership and advocacy skills with the Extension Board members.
Extension Board Meeting Modules Outline
Extension Board Meeting Modules Handout
Nebraska State Statutes related to Extension Work (2-1601 through 2-1608)
Outline of Nebraska Open Meetings Act
Extension Board Resources
Extension Board Agenda Template
Extension Board Application Form
Extension Board Position Description
NACEB (Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards) Website
D. Oversee Office Maintenance and Inventories
Oversee office maintenance, renovations, technology and furniture acquisition, inventory, vehicle maintenance.
UNL Fleet Management – Guidelines and procedures for UNL Vehicles
UNL Surplus, Inventory, & Asset Management
E. Accountability Region Communication
Facilitate effective two-way communication with Accountability Region Educators serving their geographic area for the purpose of addressing local critical issues. This includes coordination of regular Accountability Region Educator updates for extension advisory groups, county commissioners/supervisors, stakeholders, etc. of the latest educational opportunities and impacts.
F. Office Team Relationships
Promote effective working relationships and teamwork among office team. Foster effective communication among office team members, including planning and leading regular office team meetings.
G. Hire and Supervise Local Staff
Hire and supervise local support staff and interns and support their professional development opportunities. Hire and co-supervise Extension Assistants, where appropriate, and support their professional development opportunities.
On and Off Boarding Staff
These references and checklists are valuable tools for Extension Educators/Supervisors who are responsible for time-critical, compliance-related employee hiring and separation processes. Contact your respective Greater Nebraska Business Center (GNBC) Human Resource representative for assistance if you have questions.
Remember: communicate with your HR representative as soon as there is a decision to hire or as soon as you are notified of an employee’s intent to vacate his or her position.
On and Off Boarding Staff Checklists
H. Annual Budget Planning
Provide leadership for the annual budget planning, accountability of financial operations, and IT audit/inventory in order to adhere to county, university and state regulations and “best management” practices.
Nebraska Extension Financial Management Guidelines & Policies
I. EEO and Civil Rights Compliance
Coordinate local Equal Employment Opportunities and Civil Rights compliance efforts.
Civil Rights and ADA Compliance - IANR Guidance website
Institutional Equity and Compliance Resources
J. Annual Report Completion
Ensure annual completion of the following reports:
- County Annual Report as outlined by Nebraska State Statute 2-1606.
- County or Unit Impact Reports for Extension Administration and Stakeholders.
- County Emergency Action Plan.
County Annual Report
The state statute deadline is January one, however, many counties file this after the first of the year. In order to be timely, this should be filed or presented by March 1.
The purpose of completing and filing the Annual County Extension Report is to comply with Nebraska Extension Law. This statute (2-1606) states the following:
The president or secretary of the organization shall on or before January 1 of each year file with the county clerk (1) a report of their work during the preceding year; (2) a sworn itemized statement of expenditures during the preceding year; and (3) a budget or estimate of the funds necessary for the carrying on of such work in the county during the ensuring year.
To comply with this requirement please update this cover letter template on your office letterhead and include the items referenced including:
- Summary of previous year's budget expenditures (have your Extension board president sign this report)
- Current fiscal year budget
- County Impact Report(s)
- Brief program summary for each educator and assistant/associate (This year’s Impact-at-a-Glance report or Activity Insight Summary Statement). Include such reports from educators serving your county as part of their accountability region as you deem appropriate.
- Samples of 4-H newsletters, Extension newsletters, major program brochures, news articles, and other products that represent previous year's programming.
Submit this report to your local County Clerk and share a copy with your respective Engagement Zone Coordinator.
Impact at a Glance
Due in December
Current Impact at a Glance Reports for all counties and program areas
- Nebraska Extension Impact at a Glance Guides and Information
- Nebraska Extension Impact at a Glance Interest Group Example
- Nebraska Extension Impact at a Glance County Example
- Nebraska Extension Impact at a Glance Reports of 2020
- Impact at a Glance Submission Form - Due December 1, 2021
County Emergency Action Plan
EAPs are collected annually by zone during different times of the year. The following are the collection windows:
- February 1 – March 31: Zones 1, 4, 8, and 10
- May 1 – June 30: Zones 5, 7, 9, and 11, and Raising Nebraska
- September 1 – October 31: Zones 2, 3, and 6
Nebraska Extension and UNL’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Planning encourages all county Extension offices and Extension units to have emergency action plans (EAP) in place for disasters and emergencies. As shared earlier, to account for more EAP submissions and to allow for a quality review, submissions will take place in phases by Engagement Zones.
While we only ask offices/units to review their EAPs and submit them on an annual basis for our organizational records, EAPs should be updated continually as the need arises (i.e. someone retires/resigns, someone new joins the office, change of office location, etc.). The EAP outlines procedures and information that could be used by staff in the event of an emergency. Information includes office location description, shelter-in-place/evacuation procedures, and staff contact information, among other important information.
Please submit an EAP for each office location in a unit. For example, some units cover multiple counties with an office located in one or more locations. Each office location is unique and will need a separate EAP.
Examples
Example-Nebraska-Extension-EAP-2021
Example-Extension-Office-Map-2021
K. Other Duties
Such other responsibilities as the parties hereto may mutually agree.