Jefferson County Local Government Leadership Academy

The Jefferson County Leadership Academy is being developed in cooperation with UW-Madison, Division of Extension to support Jefferson County’s strategic priority of creating a more transformative government by cultivating current and future leaders who can effectively address local challenges and serve their communities. Our goal is to launch this new initiative by spring of 2027.

To ensure the program meets local needs, Jefferson County is inviting community members to complete a brief survey that will identify leadership development priorities, preferred learning topics, program format and barriers to participation.

The proposed Leadership Academy is expected to bridge the gap between residents and county operations by:

• Demystifying local governance
• Building a sustainable pipeline for public service and strengthening community engagement
• Empowering residents to become active, informed county partners
• Connecting opportunities for new county employees, committee members, and elected Board Supervisors or community leaders

Survey results will inform the design of this new program focused on strengthening government, community leadership and workforce development. County officials emphasize that the survey is intended for a broad audience of residents across Jefferson County, especially those who are interested in community leadership.