There is a real need to ensure that we know what is available and not reinvent programs that already exist for professional development. Thanks for conducting this survey!
Opportunities for improvement
In our state professional development throughout most of agents' careers is specific to content, and provided by Extension specialists. Although specialists play a valuable role, most of them aren't trained to educate others and don't model effective teaching methods. Some of the worst trainings I have been to are ones put on for agent professional development, and they are usually one-hour lectures. Also, they tend to be somewhat repetitive. We need training from outside the organization to bring in fresh thoughts and new content. We also need training series - opportunities for more in-depth learning on a topic. Although there are certainly exceptions, I rarely feel like I leave training with a new skill, resources, or information I can use immediately. It would be nice if, instead of always focusing on agents and specialists, Extension acknowledged the Administrative and support staff and gave us some training/career development. You didn't even list us as part of the JCEP organizations, which we are, in my state at least. I'm sure our national organization is as well. Nationally we have a huge range of training opportunities - some states are very comprehensive in their trainings while others are almost void of professional development. The Foundation could provide a mitigating role by sponsoring opportunities that are seen as core.
Need more funding and more ideas.
Need to identify what staff need, ask staff individually not one size fits all conference.
Professional development seems like it should be a position in every Extension organization with the focus on employee onboarding, retention, and satisfaction.
Placing and keeping new agents is very challenging. The Extension Service may need to trade its slow, unwieldy hiring processes for something nimbler to attract and retain the best people.
Please provide more opportunities for those working in the Land-grants Extension program who don't meet the requirement for outside training such as those who have an undergraduate degree but have worked years in that field. Professional development is important, but agents have to make time for it and administration has to put an emphasis and priority on it. Although very difficult to do, we need a professional development calendar a year in advance. too many times we find out about opportunities that do not fit our schedule. I think this came from COVID when everything was virtual. It might not have been too challenging to add something to your calendar at the last minute. Now that most agents are back to programming closer t o pre COVID it’s really hard to add one more thing or try to rearrange programs to participate in professional development. We are in a reactive mode instead of proactive planning mode Also in our organization's professional development should not be the things we are taught not to do in our programs- sitting, watching a ppt presentation with little interaction or practical application.
Provide funds for counties who don't have money for professional development or to attend National training conferences.
Some long-term programs need to move into the 21st Century in regards to how programs are delivered and expectations of clients (i.e., required attendance, etc.)
The New Technologies in Agriculture Extension has provided me with many learning opportunities and technical assistance to expand my program. The catalysts and key informants positively impact my work and my staff. Thank you for offering grant opportunities such as the Incubation, Acceleration and Expansion funding.
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