Commissioners Court Leadership Academy

V.G. Young Institute to Debut Specialized Program

A new leadership program designed specifically for county judges and commissioners is on the horizon.

Commissioners Court Leadership Academy, organized by V.G. Young Institute of County Government, Texas Cooperative Extension, will begin accepting applications Dec. 1, said Richard O. Avery, director of the Institute.

Each class will include 24 participants, who will be selected in a competitive application process to attend four seminars, each three to six days in length, spanning a two-year period. Academy tuition is $2,500.

“Anytime we can offer more education to elected officials, it is a good thing,” said Polk County Commissioner Bobby Smith, president of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT). “I look forward to a new and innovative program and also hope to be in the inaugural class,” he said.

Increasing demands and decreasing funding will require future leaders to be even more innovative in their management approach, said Polk County Judge John Thompson, CJCAT legislative chairman.

“The Commissioners Court Leadership Academy…is an excellent way to prepare county leaders to deal with the challenges facing counties today,” Thompson added.

County Progress asked Avery to give additional details on the Academy’s origination and goals.

 

CP: What prompted you to develop and launch the Academy?

RA: Curriculum 2000 was, and continues to be, a major step forward in enhancing the knowledge base and technical skills of commissioners court members.  Over the past several years, discussions have taken place among the leaders of the County Judges and Commissioners Association and its education committee about developing the next logical step in educational opportunities, a program that concentrates on developing leadership and managerial skills.  The Commissioners Court Leadership Academy is designed for that purpose.

CP: What is the mission of the Academy?
RA: The program is dedicated to helping county judges and commissioners realize their leadership potential by sharpening their creative abilities, communication skills, and critical thinking capabilities.  By enhancing their skills to lead, participants become better equipped to meet the needs of counties and also learn important leadership lessons that will serve them for a lifetime.

CP: What will make this program unique?
RA: By taking a more focused approach to leadership development, the Academy affords participants the opportunity to enhance leadership abilities in a way that is simply not possible within the normal confines of a traditional conference setting.  This program is the first of its kind in Texas that focuses exclusively on developing the abilities of county judges and commissioners to lead their counties. H

 

Sidebar/Box

 

Commissioners Court Leadership Academy Calendar

 

Seminar 1
Austin – 3 days                        April 27-29, 2005

Seminar 2
Corpus Christi – 3 days            November 2-4, 2005

Seminar 3
Washington, DC – 6 days         April 22-28, 2006

Seminar 4
College Station – 3 days                  August 30-September 1, 2006

 

For more information about Commissioners Court Leadership Academy or to learn how you can support this program, contact Richard O. Avery, director of V.G. Young Institute of County Government, Texas Cooperative Extension, at 979-845-7572 or r-avery@tamu.edu.