J.F. Ingram State

The Alabama Wildlife Nature Center hosted a professional development retreat for the ISTC Administrative Council and Cabinet earlier this month. We are grateful to Troy University Continuing Education for giving us the resources we need to improve communication and accomplish our objectives more quickly. The Alabama Wildlife offered practical team-building activities to help the group collaborate and learn how to rely on one another to achieve the goals. The staff are eager to implement their new training with the divisions.

J.F. Ingram State is proud to recognize the below students whose artwork will be featured in the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison Conference this month. Please join us in recognizing their accomplishments. Proud Peacock Artist: Joey Grizzell Paying Attention      Artist: Jessica Bates Oppy’s Debut Artist: He’bert Broussard The Struggle Within Artist: Dustin Duhe American Wavy Flag Artist: Anthony Crow The Alliance for Higher Education in Prison conference will feature currently incarcerated scholars who will share their insights on the value, methods, and future of higher education in prison. This year’s theme, Vital Voices and Visions: Insights on Higher Education in Prison, reflects on the importance of centering incarcerated students in the shaping of our field. #artwork #correctionaleducation #reentry #reentrymatters #makelifebetter #accs

👏👏 Join us in celebrating the achievements of our logistics students from the Draper Instructional Service Center who have earned their MSSC (Manufacturing Skill Standards Council) Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) certification. This nationally recognized credential is a testament to their dedication and hard work, positioning them ahead of others in the competitive job market. With the CLA certification, these students not only enhance their employment prospects but also increase their potential for securing higher wages. Join us in applauding their success and support their journey by dropping a comment below! ⬇⬇⬇

Last week LaShanda Hails, Pardons and Paroles Program Director, met with Quire Consulting to discuss different ways we can partner together and provide more valuable resources to the students. Following a brief meeting, members of Quire Consulting toured Main Campus and spoke with instructors about their programs. Quire Consulting is a human-centered design practice where people are the main focus. #reentry2030 #reentrymatters #reentry #correctionaleducation

Last week members of the ISTC #reentry team accompanied President Annette Fundeburk and Cabinet members for a tour of Phifer Inc. in Tuscaloosa. The tour was the first step towards a greater partnership to assist graduates find sustainable employment. Phifer Incorporated is a leader in the insect screen, solar control fabrics, drawn wire, engineered products and designed fabrics industries. This partnership will open doors for graduates across the state and grow to a tremendously valuable partnership. #reentry2030 #reentrymatters #reentry #accs #correctionaleducation #reducerecidivism

Tutwiler Instructional Service Center recently gained a new Tutorial Specialist, Brian Blackmon. Brian has given a new life to the TRIO program. This semester the students have engaged in various activities and programming that keeps them engaged and focused on their education! #Way2Go and keep up the hard work! #TRIO is a federal program targeted to serve and assist low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline. #firstgenerationstudent #reentrymatters #correctionaleducation

This week President Annette Funderburk had the opportunity to speak on the Alabama Politics with Steve Flowers show. The in-depth conversation focused on correctional education and the impact it will have on reducing recidivism in Alabama. Take a moment to catch up on the show using the link below ⬇⬇⬇ https://youtu.be/QLE065t_24w?si=IDRy71wm8ZCVD33C #correctionaleducation #accs #reentrymatters #reentry #reentry2030

Last night was the grand opening of The Kelly Museum's Art Gone Wild exhibit. Members of the President Cabinet attended the opening and enjoyed seeing two ISTC student's artwork featured. Dustin Duhe, Welding student-made, painted the Last Free Flowing Riving in Alabama. Randy Cook, Diesel Mechanic student-aide, painted the Night Owl. Randy's painting was additionally selected for the final judging towards the grand prize. The exhibit will remain on display until Nov. 23, we encourage you to take a moment to stroll through the museum and see some of the amazing artwork Alabama has to offer. #artsgonewild #thekellymuseum #artwork #artcontest

Last month members of the Job Placement team attended various Alabama Department of Human Resources A_RESET job fairs. During the job fair Daphyne met with graduates and provided an insight to the services ISTC can provide to help smooth the transition from incarceration to employment. The purpose of A-RESET (Alabama Resources for Enrichment, Self-Sufficiency, and Employability Training)job fair is to enable SNAP recipients to become more self-sufficient through participation in a wide variety of job search, training, education, and work experience activities. #accs #jobplacement #reentrymatters #jobfair

Please join us in congratulating Samantha Rose, the Public Relations Coordinator, for being chosen as the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce's Top 20 Under 40 Award recipient.

President Annette Funderburk had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce Ignite Women's Leadership Summit last week. She spoke to the group about educational pathways and how each spark of progress is leading to a wildfire of progress and change. "Success is not an overnight phenomenon. It is built on the foundation of small, consistent efforts," said Funderburk. "Each step forward, no matter how small, contributes to the larger picture of your career. When we combine our sparks, we create a wildfire of progress and change, not just for ourselves but for future generations."

J.F. Ingram State is proud to recognize Sharon Walker, Director of Adult Education, for receiving the Adult Education Hall of Fame Award for 2023-2024. 🏆 Ms. Walker earned this award for her distinguished contributions to adult education. Her legacy will remain on permanent display. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Walker on her well-earned award.

Dr. Larry Miller, Director of Limestone Instructional Service Center, gave the commencement speech for the Huntsville Day Reporting Center last week. Dr. Miller reflected back on his time with the group and the personal development he saw in every participant. He urged the individuals to keep going after their education goals and to become the best versions of themselves.

J.F. Ingram State welcomed Mike Raita and Cary Hill from U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville's office yesterday at Bibb Instructional Service Center in Brent. Raita and Hill were impressed by the quality training students receive and the extensive skills training certifications offered. The highlight of the tour was when the students conducted an in-person demonstration of the CNC Router. They left the facility inspired by the great work Alabama is doing to combat recidivism and strengthen reentry practices.

J.F. Ingram State met with New Flyer of America in #Anniston earlier this month to establish a new career pathway for #logistics and #welding graduates. Jade Gantt, Scotty Curry, and Matt Poole met with officials to understand how they can best train their students to fill their vacancies. #careergoals #partnerships #industryjobs

J.F. Ingram State attended U.S. Representative Terri Sewell's 13th Annual Job Fair in Bessemer earlier this month. During the job fair they met with several former students and established new employer connections for future graduates. #careergoals #accs #correctionaled #reentry

The Main Campus welcomed Marshall Macheledt and Bill Harris from the office of U.S. Representative Barry Moore for a tour of J.F. Ingram State last week. While on campus, they spoke with faculty and students to gain a better understanding of how Ingram State is helping its students acquire marketable skills that can lead to better jobs and lower recidivism rates in Alabama.

This month participants from the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles PREP Center participated in the Skills for Success Food and Beverage and Heavy Equipment Operator laboratories! The Food & Beverage lab, trained necessary skills to serve, host, and how to use knives, weights and measures, date marking, labeling and receiving, rolling silverware, and preparing corn fritter batter. The Heavy Equipment Operator lab focused on components of a skid steer, moving equipment around barricades, and raise and lower the bucket to move and empty materials. The skills participants acquire in these labs are directly applicable to the labor market. Ingram State is pleased to collaborate with Skills for Success on training.

We are excited to begin having conversations with another state that focuses on #correctionaleducation and providing workforce opportunities to their justice-involved citizens. In August, Dean of Instruction Butch Young met with an Iowa Office of Apprenticeship official and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship to discuss Alabama's pathway for a successful registered apprenticeship program for individuals housed in a correctional setting prior to release. The meeting was beneficial for all parties as both Alabama and Iowa look to create new pathways for individuals to enter the workforce and have sustainable success.

Attention Alabama! Stay tuned for the Skills for Success Innovation Unplugged podcast featuring ISTC Pardons and Paroles Programming Director LaShanda Hails. During the segment LaShanda discusses how Ingram State is assisting justice-involved students across the state through correctional education.