Borough President Vito Fossella Honors Outstanding Educators With Patrick F. Daly Award

Borough President Vito Fossella honored Farrah Garcia and posthumously honored Dr. Nora De Rosa as the recipients of the 2025 Patrick F. Daly Award during a ceremony in Borough Hall.

Patrick F. Daly, who lived on Rose Avenue in New Dorp and was the principal of P.S. 15, was fatally shot on Dec. 17, 1992, outside the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn while searching for a student who left the school building.

The namesake award celebrates Staten Island educators and educational administrators who have dedicated their lives to providing the best for their students

Dr. Nora De Rosa held a long career in education, defined by enduring compassion for students and inspiring leadership. The cornerstone of this career was her tenure at Bernstein (I.S. 7) Intermediate School, where she served as the principal from 2003 until her retirement in 2024. She is remembered as a heartfelt leader whose work made a lasting impact on the school community. Dr. De Rosa passed away in December. For her dedication to educational excellence, Dr. De Rosa is the second educator posthumously honored with the Patrick F. Daly Award.

Farrah Garcia has worked for more than 10 years in education and is currently an Individualized Education Program teacher at P.S. 19R. She is known for her deep patience and understanding of each student’s individual needs. She leads a student chapter of the Staten Island Giving Circle, helping to teach the value of community service to her students.

Borough President Fossella called it an honor to remember the legacy of Patrick F. Daly and all the educators “who truly make a difference -- not just in one kid’s life, but sometimes in the lives of hundreds of kids.

“We’re proud to honor and acknowledge educators who really set the stage and set the bar high for teaching and education,” said Borough President Fossella. “It doesn’t matter what the salary is, it doesn’t matter what the hours are, it doesn’t matter how many tests you have to correct, it doesn’t matter because at your core, you want to help the kids. That’s a calling -- and that is why we are here tonight.”