Memorandum of Understanding

On January 20th, 2017, the Consul of Italy, Dr. Maria Luisa Lapresa, met with Brian J. Whiston, Superintended of Education for the State of Michigan, to officially sign a Memorandum of Understanding designed to facilitate the promotion of the Italian language in K-12 schools in Michigan.
The official document, believed to be the first of its kind between the Italian government and the Department of Education of a State in the U.S.A., will allow individuals with a degree from an Italian University to teach in K-12 schools in Michigan to receive a temporary teaching permit from the Office of Certification in Lansing.
This important milestone, which is designed to address the possible imminent need for certified and qualified teachers of the Italian language, was made possible thanks to the efforts and numerous meetings and discussions between Consul Lapresa, Superintendent Whiston, and his staff of the Department of Education in Lansing, members of the Osservatorio, Franco Iaderosa and Lia Adelfi and past Representative Anthony Forlini.

At the Office of Public and Governmental Affairs, Michigan Department of Education.

Prof. Sandro Corso, Education Director; Mr. Franco Iaderosa, Executive Director NOI Foundation; Ms. Caroline Liethen, consul of Italy in Detroit; Dr. Luisa Lapresa, Superintendent Brian Whiston, Mr. Anthony Forlini; Ms. Lia Adelfi, President Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan and Dep. staff, during the warm reception and assistance during the meeting in Lansing for the final editing text of the MOU.

Dr. Maria Luisa Lapresa, Consul of Italy
Prof. Sandro Corso, Education Director
Mr. Anthony Forlini, State Representative
Ms. Lia Adelfi, President Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan
Mr. Paolo Nervo, President NOI Foundation
Mr. Franco Iaderosa, Executive Director NOI Foundation