FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   Elissa Ruffino (NIAF) 202/939-3106 or elissa@niaf.org

**New York Educator Kerri Titone to Receive Award**

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 19, 2011) Kerri Titone, a teacher of Italian language at Northport High School in Northport, N.Y., is the recipient of the ninth annual National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Teacher of the Year Award. Titone, a resident of East Northport, N.Y., will be recognized at NIAF’s 36th Anniversary Awards Convention Weekend, held October 28-29 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. Hon. Patricia de Stacy Harrison, NIAF vice chairman, and Matthew J. DiDomenico, chair of the NIAF scholarship and grants committee and NIAF senior executive vice president, will present the award at the Victoria J. Mastrobuono Luncheon on Friday, October 28, 2011.

The NIAF Teacher of the Year Award honors an educator at the elementary, secondary and college level who has shown dedication to teaching Italian and demonstrates an ability to inspire a love of this topic in students of any background.

“Ms. Titone has encouraged her students to embrace global perspective and as such, has presented concepts such as nuclear energy, recycling and other environmental concerns as they relate to contemporary Italy. History is also an important component of Ms. Titone’s instruction as she explores periods such as the Renaissance and the Risorgimento with her students. Music is a big part of Ms. Titone’s curriculum as she has introduced classical Italian Music and opera as well as Italian pop and rap to her course material on culture,” Irene McLaughlin, Northport High School principal, said.

Titone will receive a continuing education stipend for the study of a specialized course designed for foreign teachers of the Italian language, “Corso di aggiornamento per insegnanti di italiano a stranieri,” (Refresher Course for Teachers of Italian Abroad) from NIAF in partnership with the University for Foreigners Perugia.

A member of the World Language Department at Northport High School, Titone has been teaching Italian for the past five years. She is a member of American Association of Teachers of Italian (AATI) and the Long Island Language Teachers (LILT).
During NIAF’s convention weekend, the Foundation will host Expo Italia, a two-day exhibition showcasing the best of Italy with a bocce court including demos and instructions as well as our Auction Showcase. Tickets to Saturday’s black-tie gala begin at $400 per person. Proceeds benefit NIAF’s educational programs. For tickets or sponsor information, contact Jerry Jones at 202/387-0600 or jerry@niaf.org, or register online at www.niaf.org/gala.

For more information about NIAF’s Italian Language and Culture Teacher of the Year Program, visit www.niaf.org/programs/teacheroftheyear/index.asp.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to preserving the heritage of Italian Americans. Visit www.niaf.org.