Ruth Stadheim of Albert Lea has been hired as the Minnesota Department of Corrections director of career and technical education. Stadheim has worked for the DOC for 14 years in the education division, according to a press release.

Stadheim started at the Shakopee women’s prison in 2002, was promoted to education director at the Faribault men’s prison in 2005, and recently promoted to state director of career and technical education. Stadheim oversees the Career and Technical programming at all of the DOC’s 11 prison facilities and DOC programming in county jails.

Stadheim’s new position allows her to make partnerships with state and federal agencies, community organizations and business and industry. The goal in corrections education is to provide educational training to offenders that will allow them to find livable wage jobs when they return to their communities.

Stadheim is a member of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council’s – Pathways to Partnerships committee as well as the Minnesota Manufacturing Workforce Partnership committee. She was also a member of a team of state agency representatives — the One Stop System Design team — in creating a combined state plan for the Federal Department of Labor for statewide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding. In addition, Ruth works with members from the Federal Department of Justice and the Federal Department of Education on securing funding opportunities to expand educational programming.