Role of County Coordinators

There is very few decisions that are made by District Extension Administrators which impacts county programs more than the appointment of a county coordinator. The reason this decision is so important is that the county coordinator can foster teamwork, enhance our capacity to interpret program outcomes, and establish an environment that fosters open communication.

Any discussion regarding a county coordinator must begin with what a county coordinator is not. A county coordinator is not the following;

• Supervisor of other County Extension Agents in the office.
• Automatically appointed annually. Appointment of county coordinator is not a lifetime appointment.
  
• Automatically appointed based on agent tenure.
  

When District Extension Administrators consider the appointment of a county coordinator the following should be considered;

• Does agent demonstrate the capacity to develop and submit reports associated with county programs to District office and State County Programs office? These reports must be complete and submitted in a timely manner.
• Does agent have the capacity to serve as the liaison to the District Extension Administrator and county commissioners' court?
  
• Does agent demonstrate the ability to foster teamwork?
• Does the agent have an appreciation for the total Extension Program? It is critical that our county coordinators know, understand, and appreciate the total Extension program if they are to effectively provide leadership in program interpretation, budget development, and in providing overall support of co-workers.
  
• Does the agent have the ability to solve problems? County coordinators must have the capacity to solve problems- not create them!
• Does the agent have the ability to provide leadership in developing a county interpretation plan that interfaces with a district interpretation plan?

The elements that county coordinator's should provide leadership to can be divided into five broad categories; personal management, fiscal management, office management, interpretation, and professional relationships.

While county coordinators do not supervise other agents in an office there are some personnel management responsibilities that they should provide leadership to include;

• Working with county faculty to develop job responsibilities for county support staff, para-professionals, interns, and county program assistants.
• Working with county faculty to develop position descriptions for county support staff, para-professionals, interns, and county program assistants.
• Reviewing performance appraisals for county support staff, para-professionals, interns, and county program assistants. The actual performance appraisal conferences may be conducted by the faculty member who is designated as the supervisor, but the county coordinator is ultimately responsible for ensuring that formal and productive performance appraisals are conducted.
• Providing leadership for coordinating efforts in all aspects of EEO programs including documentation and coordination of special compliance reports.
• Providing leadership in establishing an environment that fosters productivity in the workplace.

Some of the elements associated with fiscal management that county coordinators provides leadership to is as follows;

• Serves as liaison with county commissioners' court in all matters related to county budgets.
• Responsible for coordinating county faculty and staff input in developing a county budget.
• Responsible for accountability of all funds provided to and expended in support of Extension programs.
• Responsible for providing leadership in assessing fiscal resources needed to support Extension programs.
• Provides leadership to ensure that all Texas AgriLife Extension policies related to cash management are complied with in terms of working with support staff, interns, para-professionals, and program assistants. All agents have the responsibility of ensuring that Texas AgriLife Extension Service cash management policies are complied with in terms of support groups in the county.
  

Some of the elements associated with office management that county coordinators provides leadership to is as follows;

• Establishes an environment that fosters productivity, trust, and respect in the workplace.
• Responsible for working with county commissioners' court, county Extension faculty, and others to assure adequate office space.
• Arranges for orientation and training of support staff, interns, para-professionals and program assistants.
  
• Maintains complete records.
• Arranges for county Extension faculty and support staff to develop plan for equitable and efficient utilization of support staff time.

Some of the elements associated with interpretation that county coordinators provides leadership to is as follows;

• Provides leadership in working with county Extension faculty in developing a systematic program interpretation plan for county commissioners' court and elected officials that communicates programmatic outcomes.
• Provides leadership in working with county Extension faculty to interpret County Extension programs.

Some of the elements associated with professional relationships that county coordinators provides leadership to is as follows;

• Provides leadership for maintaining positive relationship with leaders in the community.
  
• Provides leadership for maintaining positive relationship with District Extension Administrator and District office staff.
• Provides leadership to ensure positive relationship with community groups and organizations.

The success of the Extension program at the county level is the responsibility of the total Extension faculty and staff. In order to achieve the highest level of success District Extension Administrators should expect that the county coordinator provide the leadership that fosters the teamwork that will ultimately result in effective programs and efficiently managed Extension offices.