Episode 212-- Annette Funderburk -- Breaking the Cycle: Prison Education and Second Chances

Stacked Keys Podcast

Annette Funderburk, President of Ingram State Technical College, brings us inside the transformative world of prison education with striking candor and compassion. Her institution stands alone among Alabama's community colleges—dedicated exclusively to serving incarcerated individuals across the state's correctional facilities.
"Just because you made a mistake doesn't make you a mistake," Funderburk shares, revealing the philosophy that drives her work helping people rebuild their lives behind prison fences. As a first-generation college graduate herself, she understands profoundly how education creates pathways where none seemed possible before.
The conversation takes us deep into the challenges and triumphs of teaching in correctional settings. From hiring instructors who see potential where others might only see crimes, to developing comprehensive support systems that follow students from incarceration to employment, Ingram State's approach addresses the whole person. Funderburk explains how they're breaking generational cycles by helping parents become positive role models through education and stable employment.
Most compelling are the stories of transformation—watching students arrive lacking confidence, then witnessing their evolution into disciplined learners preparing for life beyond prison walls. The college doesn't just teach technical skills but focuses on building critical thinking abilities that were often missing when poor decisions led to incarceration.
Whether you're interested in criminal justice reform, education's transformative power, or leadership in challenging environments, this conversation will shift your perspective on what's possible when we invest in second chances. Listen now and discover how stomping to your own drum—as the podcast's theme suggests—can mean creating opportunities where society often sees only dead ends.

Music "STOMP" used by permission of artist Donica Knight Holdman and Jim Huff

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1. Episode 212-- Annette Funderburk -- Breaking the Cycle: Prison Education and Second Chances (00:00:00)

2. Podcast Introduction and Welcome (00:00:16)

3. Meet Annette Thunderberg (00:01:30)

4. Education's Power to Change Lives (00:03:33)

5. Protecting Your Heart in Prison Education (00:06:09)

6. Finding Work-Life Balance in Service (00:10:35)

7. Leadership Philosophies and Mentorship (00:14:38)

8. Working Without Bias in Corrections (00:22:24)

9. Building Self-Confidence Behind Bars (00:33:12)

10. Personal Reflections and Finding Purpose (00:41:11)

11. Final Thoughts and Superpower Wishes (00:48:07)

12. Podcast Closing and Credits (00:52:39)