The Seward County Extension office recently hired a new early childhood educator who is looking forward to bringing her teaching experiences and her interests in human development into the role.
Emily Manning, originally from Crete, received her bachelor of science degree in Family and Consumer Science Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her master of arts in Human Development and Family Science from the University of Missouri. After graduating, Manning was the FCS teacher at Fairbury High School for two years.
“My experiences in graduate school working with the University of Missouri Extension system further solidified my plans to seek out Extension as my professional career,” Manning said. “I worked with ‘Show Me Healthy Relationships’ which taught healthy relationship skills to adults in committed intimate partnerships based on research from The Gottman Institute.”
Manning’s experience in early childhood education runs deep, as she took many courses in her undergraduate and master’s career that she can apply to her new position.
“Much of my course work in both undergraduate and graduate focused on early childhood,” she said. “I took a course on general child development as well as a course that focused on development during the infant and toddler periods. Both courses had a practicum placement within an early childhood education center.”
She also said many of her graduate courses focused on development in early childhood.
“So much growth and learning happen within this period,” Manning said. “Additionally, as the Family and Consumer Science teacher in Fairbury, I offered a course, early childhood services, which prepared students to work in early childhood. Many students enrolled in this course were interested in early childhood education.”
As the early childhood educator, Manning will support adults who play a role in young children’s lives and expand access to high-quality early child care and education.
“I will offer professional development and training for child care providers, resources to support families of young children and respond to emerging issues with research-based information and resources,” she said.
Working as an Extension educator has been a dream of Manning’s ever since her mom worked as one.
“My mother, Leanne Manning, was an Extension educator in Saline County until her death in 2021,” she said. “She brought me along to her programming over the years which provided me with first-hand experience about the impact Extension has across the state.”
Manning said she knew she wanted to work with the Seward County Extension when she noticed the positive work culture that had been established.
“It was clear that everyone wants to be there and enjoys working, and I wanted to be a part of that positive environment,” she said. “Additionally, the early childhood team blew me away with how passionate, educated, empathetic and driven they all are. They care about this field, the people they serve and improving outcomes for young children within our state.”
Now starting the position, Manning said her first goals are to establish relationships within the community, assess the needs within Seward County regarding early childhood education and deliver programming to address those needs.
“I would like to meet with early childhood educators and other key stakeholders in the community to learn about what they want and need in terms of early childhood,” she said.
Once the needs are figured out, Manning said she will begin planning for those needs.
“It is exciting to share that Seward County recently received a spot within the Communities For Kids program,” she said. “This program is focused on expanding access to high-quality early care and education for children birth to five. I am looking forward to partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and other community stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes for the children and families residing in Seward County.”
Manning also wanted to mention that although her main spot is in Seward, she will also be supporting Merrick, Hamilton, Polk, York and Butler counties.
Manning will also help deliver her first online training for childcare providers called “Less Stress During the Holiday Hustle” which is offered at both 1 and 7 p.m. on Dec. 1. Anyone interested can visit https://child.unl.edu/register-upcoming-classes or contact Manning at emily.manning@unl.edu or (402) 643-2981.
“I feel truly grateful and blessed to be here in Seward and to be a part of this amazing early childhood team across the state of Nebraska serving children, families and professionals,” Manning said.
