Toyota Awards 2006 Family Literacy Teacher of the Year

[nhparrot]

Toyota Awards 2006 Family Literacy Teacher of the Year
Mark Faloni honored as 10th annual recipient of the award

03/19/2006 Louisville, KY
March 19, 2006 - Louisville, KY - They face overwhelming odds.Most of their parents have trouble reading and writing English. Many of them live in poverty. By age three, they will hear 20 million fewer words than peers raised in professional families.

But the students in Mark Faloni's elementary school in Washington, D.C., and their families have a valuable tool to help them beat the odds – improved literacy. That's why he was honored as the 2006 Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year today at the National Conference on Family Literacy in Louisville.

This is the 10th year that Toyota has sponsored the Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year award in conjunction with NCFL. As Teacher of the Year, Faloni's program at Bancroft Elementary School will receive a $5,000 grant, while he was awarded a free trip to the National Center for Family Literacy's annual conference.

Faloni was chosen by a panel of family literacy specialists at NCFL, who reviewed nominations for high-performing teachers from across the United States.

An educator in the District of Columbia's Public School System for more than 20 years, Faloni stood out because of his success in designing curricula that not only motivate disadvantaged students to learn, but also encourage them to work together.

His students consistently attend classes, and his retention rate is among the highest of NCFL's programs for Hispanic and other immigrant families. During the 2004-2005 school year, the majority of his students improved their test scores in English as a Second Language (ESL).

"As educators, we're continually looking for ways to reach beyond the classroom and impact our students' lives," Faloni said. "As these parents improve their own literacy levels, they open up economic opportunities for themselves and are better prepared to help their children academically."

Faloni's ESL program at Bancroft (in partnership with the Mary's Center) is supported by NCFL's multi-cultural family literacy initiative, combining ESL courses, early childhood education, parenting education, Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities, and computer literacy instruction.

"The Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year award recognizes teachers who are the unsung heroes of our society and who now, more than ever, have the daunting challenge of positioning children and families to succeed," said Sharon Darling, NCFL Founder and President.

"Educators like Mark are making long-lasting and meaningful changes for the participants in the program and the entire community."

Darling pointed out that the drop-out rate for Hispanic students is 16 percent for those who speak English well, compared to 59 percent for Hispanics who do not. In addition, if just one child in each of the 5,000 family literacy programs based on the Toyota model advances a grade instead of being held back, the potential savings for the nation is more than $38 million.

"Through his teaching and the special attention that he gives students and parents, Mark Faloni has shaped the lives of hundreds of immigrant families," said Pat Pineda, group vice president at Toyota Motor North America. "He has created an environment where students are motivated to learn, and parents become full partners in their children's education. We are proud to honor him as the Toyota Family Literacy Teacher of the Year."

Toyota and NCFL also recognized the Teacher of the Year runners-up, who received free registration to the conference and a $500 scholarship toward travel expenses: Kay Brown, Northeast Louisiana Regional Even Start Consortium, Monroe, La.; John Fullen, Blackwater Community School Family and Child Education Program, Coolidge, Ariz.; and Steven Jason Tetreault, Dorcas Place Adult and Family Learning Center, Providence Public Schools, Providence, R.I.

ABOUT NCFL
The NationalCenter for Family Literacy, a worldwide leader in family literacy, was founded in Louisville in 1989. NCFL has impacted 1 million families and trained 150,000 teachers, practitioners and advocates. It has earned more than $97 million in grants for literacy. To learn more or to donate to this effort, call 1-877-FAMLIT or visit www.famlit.org.

ABOUT TOYOTA
Since 1991, Toyota and NCFL have forged successful programs to promote family literacy in the United States. Toyota has contributed more than $23 million to help NCFL establish family literacy model programs. Today, the Toyota/NCFL partnership accounts for more than 196 family literacy sites in 33 cities and 24 states. More information is available at www.toyota.com/about/community/education/.