Fox Lane High School Italian teacher Raffaella Pirone recently became the first teacher from New York to receive the national Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Innovation in the Teaching of Italian (K-12). "This annual prestigious recognition of outstanding and creative teaching is funded by Coccia Foundation and the Inserra families under the auspices of the Coccia Institute," said Dr. Mary Ann Re, Director of the Coccia Institute for the Italian Experience in America at Montclair State University.

"The candidates are evaluated and the recipient selected by a distinguished panel of judges in Italian language pedagogy from across the country, as well as in Italy. Brava, Raffaella, and the excellent administration that supports you! The competition was formidable."