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Local Elected Leaders Academy (LELA)
About the Local Elected Leaders Academy
The Local Elected Leaders Academy, a partnership with the UNC School of Government, the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and the N.C. League of Municipalities, offers local elected officials the knowledge and skills needed to lead and govern their communities.
LELA helps the Association achieve its strategic goals, including "strengthen county leadership and board development" and "facilitate regional and intergovernmental collaboration."
The Local Elected Leaders Academy, a partnership with the UNC School of Government, the N.C. Association of County Commissioners and the N.C. League of Municipalities, offers local elected officials the knowledge and skills needed to lead and govern their communities.
LELA helps the Association achieve its strategic goals, including "strengthen county leadership and board development" and "facilitate regional and intergovernmental collaboration."
Scholarships for elected officials
LELA offers scholarships to elected county and municipal officials to attend School of Government-sponsored programs, workshops and courses. To apply for a scholarship, click on the course you wish to attend listed on the NCACC calendar. In the “Links” section, click on “for more information.” This will direct you to the School of Government webpage for more course information, registration instructions, and scholarship details.
LELA Recognition Program
County commissioners are recognized for their participation in both educational programs and service to the Association. The starting place for earning credits is the orientation program, the Essentials of County Government. As commissioners increase education and service, they earn credits toward recognition at 3 levels: Practitioner, Master and Mentor. The NCACC tracks credits and recognizes participation every year at the Annual Conference.
Recognition Levels and Credits
View a detailed description of credits and more information.
View the LELA Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming education and training opportunities that is sorted by category and includes credits offered per event.
The program is open to all county commissioners. Commissioners do not need to sign up to begin receiving credits, and commissioners can check on the number of credits they have in each category by contacting Kelly Brown at kelly.brown@ncacc.org or (919) 715-1991.
Credits are divided into 3 categories; a minimum amount of credit in each category is required to obtain each recognition level.
1. Orientation
2. Workshops and Programs (3 credits per half-day; 6 credits per full day)
3. NCACC-sponsored programs and service to the Association
LELA offers scholarships to elected county and municipal officials to attend School of Government-sponsored programs, workshops and courses. To apply for a scholarship, click on the course you wish to attend listed on the NCACC calendar. In the “Links” section, click on “for more information.” This will direct you to the School of Government webpage for more course information, registration instructions, and scholarship details.
LELA Recognition Program
County commissioners are recognized for their participation in both educational programs and service to the Association. The starting place for earning credits is the orientation program, the Essentials of County Government. As commissioners increase education and service, they earn credits toward recognition at 3 levels: Practitioner, Master and Mentor. The NCACC tracks credits and recognizes participation every year at the Annual Conference.
Recognition Levels and Credits
View a detailed description of credits and more information.
| Program category |
Credits needed to reach PRACTITIONER level |
Additional credits over Practitioner to reach MASTER level |
Additional credits over Master to reach MENTOR level |
| Orientation |
18 |
0 |
0 |
| Workshops and Programs |
18 |
12 |
12 |
| Association-Sponsored Programs and Service to Association |
12 |
6 |
6 |
View the LELA Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming education and training opportunities that is sorted by category and includes credits offered per event.
The program is open to all county commissioners. Commissioners do not need to sign up to begin receiving credits, and commissioners can check on the number of credits they have in each category by contacting Kelly Brown at kelly.brown@ncacc.org or (919) 715-1991.
Credits are divided into 3 categories; a minimum amount of credit in each category is required to obtain each recognition level.
1. Orientation
- Essentials of County Government (18 credits)
2. Workshops and Programs (3 credits per half-day; 6 credits per full day)
- School of Government-sponsored programs such as Leading Your County Governing Board and Regional LeaderShops.
- NCACC-sponsored programs, such as the 2013 Affordable Care Act Seminar and the 2014 Economic Development Symposium
- Pre-conference workshops offered at the NCACC and NCLM annual conferences
3. NCACC-sponsored programs and service to the Association
- NCACC Annual Conference (9 credits)
- County Assembly Day (6 credits)
- District Meetings (3 credits)
- Active service on NCACC steering committees, task forces and other membership committees (6 credits)
- National Association of Counties conferences (9 credits)
- Service on the NCACC Board of Directors (18 credits)
- Service as an NCACC officer (24 credits)