Christina Tettonis and Kori Hale Named Board Members of Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College announces the appointment of two new members of its Board of Directors, as well as the full slate of officers and board members for its 2015-16 season.

Joining the Board of Directors are Christina Tettonis and Kori Hale. “I am delighted to welcome both Christina and Kori to the Brooklyn Center Board,” said Yvonne Riley-Tepie, Vice President, U.S. Field Marketing for TD Bank and the President of Brooklyn Center’s Board of Directors to the company’s Board of Directors. “Each one embodies the spirit of community that Brooklyn Center is known for and brings talent, expertise, and energy to the table. We are fortunate to have them as part of our team as we begin our 61st season.”

“As an educator, I know first-hand the positive power that the performing arts have on children and their families as well as on our communities,” said Ms. Tettonis. “I am honored to be joining the Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts board. I have tremendous respect for the organization, and I look forward to working together with the Brooklyn Center team.”

“Brooklyn Center plays such an important role in serving all of Brooklyn’s many communities with world-class, affordable arts and arts education programs,” added Ms. Hale. “I’m proud to be part of a generation of emerging arts supporters, and I look forward to bringing my commitment and passion for the arts to the organization.”

Christina Tettonis is honored to be principal of The Hellenic Classical Charter School since 2007. Her school has recently celebrated their second full term charter renewal. It ranks among the top charter schools (Pre-K to 8) in New York City for exceeding targets in student achievement, school environment, and student progress. She is a member of the Deputy Chancellor’s Principal Advisory Group and an active alumni fellow for The Cahn Fellows Program for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is also a Board of Trustee for the Brooklyn Public Library. Christina was principal of Public School 170 for the NYC Department of Education from 2002- 2007 and Director of The Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program for Community School District 20 from 1997-2002. She began her public school career teaching students at Public School 186 and Public School 105 in Brooklyn, New York. Her first teaching position was at Holy Cross Parochial School. Christina was born and raised in Brooklyn. She is the oldest daughter of Greek immigrant parents. She has been married to her husband Mark for 26 years and, together, they have twin sons, which they consider their greatest gifts.

Kori Hale is a TV Producer for CNBC. Prior to joining CNBC, Kori produced internal news segments for Bloomberg TV’s London bureau. Kori’s passion for business news started with her role at UBS Investment Bank in London and continued when she returned to the states to work as an Investment Banker for Goldman Sachs. Kori received her undergraduate degree in Finance from Hampton University. She merged her finance background and her love of journalism by attending Syracuse University, receiving a Masters in Digital Broadcast Journalism. This launched her business journalism career. Kori is passionate about the importance of the arts and community involvement.

The slate of board members for Brooklyn Center’s 2015-16 Season follows:

· Dr. Karen L. Gould, President, Brooklyn College, Chairperson

· Yvonne Riley-Tepie, Vice President, U.S. Field Marketing, TD Bank, President

· Renee McClure, Manager, Community & Customer Management, National Grid, Vice President

· Cliff Luster, Co-Publisher, Courier-Life Publications, Treasurer

· Joshua Schneps, Co-Publisher, Schneps Communications, Secretary

· Dr. Maria Ann Conelli, Dean of Visual, Media and Performing Arts, Brooklyn College

· Mannie Corman, Philanthropist

· Kori Hale, Multimedia Journalist

· Gail Hammerman, Community Activist

· Rabbi Alvin Kass, Rabbi, East Midwood Jewish Center, Director Emeritus

· Matthew Ormsbee, Attorney at Law

· Ty Stone-Adams, Community Liaison, Office Manager and Executive Assistant for the Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Macy’s Inc.

· Christina Tettonis Principal, Hellenic Classical Charter School

· Ella Friedman Weiss, President, Brooklyn Arts Council

· Antonia Yuille Williams, Director, Public Affairs, Con Edison

About Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts

Founded in 1954, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College presents outstanding performing arts and arts education programs, reflective of Brooklyn’s diverse communities, at affordable prices. Each season, Brooklyn Center welcomes over 65,000 people to the 2,400 seat Whitman Theatre, including up to 45,000 schoolchildren from over 300 schools who attend their SchoolTime series, one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the borough. Brooklyn Center’s 2015-16 season will include performances by multi-platinum-selling entertainer Michael Feinstein, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love, Grammy-winning artists Robert Glasper and Ramsey Lewis, and many more. For a complete schedule, visit www.BrooklynCenter.org.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts’ programs are supported, in part, by public funding from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Brooklyn Center’s 2015-16 Season is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Major support for the 2015-16 season is provided by: Brooklyn College, Con Edison, TD Bank, National Grid, Shanachie Entertainment Corp, the Herman Goldman Foundation, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, the Jazz Touring Network, the Alice Lawrence Foundation, the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, Inc., and the TD Charitable Foundation. Additional support provided by CNG Publications, The Brooklyn Eagle, and WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM. The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott New York Brooklyn is the official hotel of Brooklyn Center’s 2015-16 Season. Backstage catering is graciously provided by Applebee’s.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges generous support from New York State Assembly members Rhoda Jacobs, Alan Maisel, Félix Ortiz, Annette Robinson, and Helene Weinstein, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, and Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Tom Finkelpearl.