Staten Island BP Swears in New Student Government At Elementary School P.S. 48, Winners of Patrick R. Daly Award For Outstanding Educators Announced
Below are several education-related updates by the borough president, including the swearing in of the new student body government at P.S.48 and the winners of the Patrick R. Daly Award for excellence in education. We covered the Patrick R. Daly award in 2024 and 2023 as well.
The future of Staten Island is in good hands!
Yesterday, BP Vito Fossella had the pleasure of swearing in the new Student Government at P.S. 48! Congratulations to these young leaders for stepping up to represent their fellow students!
Wishing them all the best this school year!
Staten Island School Investment
BP Vito Fossella stopped by I.S. 2 Egbert Intermediate School in Midland Beach to announce a BRAND-NEW auditorium and newly renovated bathrooms are on the way!
Judging by the cheers from the students, we’re still not sure which one they were more excited about!
Another great investment in our schools. On Staten Island, our kids come first!
The school tour continues!
This time, BP Vito Fossella stopped by P.S. 1, The Tottenville School, to share some exciting news with the students and staff!
The school will be receiving a BRAND NEW auditorium, giving students a better space for performances, assemblies, and special events!
Another great investment in our schools and our children. On Staten Island, our kids come first!
Borough President Fossella Honors Incredible Educators and School Administrators with the 2025 & 2026 Patrick F. Daly Awards at Borough Hall Ceremony
Staten Island, NY – Borough President Vito Fossella honored some of Staten Island’s extraordinary educators and school administrators with the 2025 & 2026 Patrick F. Daly Awards for their vital role in local educational excellence at an awards ceremony at Borough Hall last Wednesday.
The Patrick F. Daly Award, established in 1992, honors former P.S. 15 Principal Patrick F. Daly, who dedicated his career and life to the betterment of his students and tragically died in 1992 while searching for a missing student in the Red Hook Houses. The Patrick F. Daly Award celebrates Staten Island educators and educational administrators who have dedicated their lives to providing the best for their students.
“The Patrick Daly Award is a great reminder of everything our educators and school administrators do collectively for thousands of kids on Staten Island. This year, there were decades of dedication to our kids, among our four winners,” Borough President Fossella stated.
This year’s ceremony honored Monsignor Farrell High School Principal Lawrence Musanti and Bridge Preparatory Charter School third grade teacher Diana McKenna with the 2025 Patrick Daly Award, and I.S. 34 Assistant Principal Gary Tames and P.S. 29 Music Teacher Brian Stephens with the 2026 Patrick Daly Award.
Lawrence Musanti is a longtime fixture in the Monsignor Farrell High School community, having steered the development and education of thousands of Faithful Men for more than fifty years – as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, and now, the school’s first layman Principal. Mr. Musanti is not only responsible for shepherding generations of young men through their most formative educational years, but also for keeping the Farrell pride steady through challenging times, especially the COVID-19 pandemic – serving as a strong and stern example for staff and students alike.
Lou Tobacco, President of Monsignor Farrell High School, introduced Mr. Musanti by reflecting on his decades of selfless service to generations of Farrell faithful.
“Mr. Musanti has been serving Monsignor Farrell High School for over 57 years. He is the heart, soul and glue at Farrell, together with his lovely wife Diane, who make many sacrifices for our students and do it with their heads down,” Mr. Tobacco said.
“This isn’t work for me. It is a vocation, a calling,” Mr. Musanti reflected. “Every single kid is put here for a reason. Every kid deserves our best, and every one of us has a talent we can do better than anyone else. My job as a teacher, educator, and administrator is to tap into that and find out in each kid what makes them special. For that, I am happy where I am.”
Diana McKenna is a third-grade instructor at Bridge Preparatory Charter School, who led her second-grade class last year to a 72% ELA proficiency rate – the highest in the entire grade.
“Ms. McKenna exemplifies what it means to be a passionate educator,” said Chris Zilinski, CEO of Bridge Prep. “To be a student in Ms. McKenna’s class is to know that you are loved, that you belong, that you are going to be treated as an individual, and that you are going to be pushed to be the best version of yourself. She is a superhero educator and knows what it takes to give her kids 100%.”
Underscoring this success is her dynamic educational approach, attentive and keen on every student’s needs. Her style particularly engages students in reflection over their thought processes and approach, helping them to grow holistically, within and outside of the classroom.
“I am incredibly honored. I absolutely love every student that walks into my classroom. I always want them to believe in themselves, and for them to know that nothing is impossible,” Ms. McKenna shared, upon receiving her award.
Gary Tames has served in an administrative capacity at Totten Intermediate School 34 for fifteen years. As the Assistant Principal of Safety and School Climate at Totten Intermediate School 34, Mr. Tames ensures the safety and wellbeing of Totten’s 1,400 students every day. His tenure is defined by his enduring connection with students and their families, and his exceeding willingness to answer the call and step up whenever students and staff are in need.
John Boyle, Principal of I.S. 34, expressed his profound appreciation for Mr. Tames’ dedication and care for the Totten community.
“Gary is the heartbeat of I.S. 34, the hardest worker in every room he is in, and somehow, he finds a way to be everybody’s favorite person,” said Mr. Boyle. “He knows the names and life stories of all our 1,400 students, and it’s something he prides himself in – treating our Eagles the way our children want to be treated.”
“I have always tried to approach this job with one simple philosophy – treat every child as if they were my own. Our responsibility to our students doesn’t end when the school day is over – whether attending their sporting events, supporting them outside of school or taking the time to show them that someone cares. I want every child to know that they matter, not just to me, but to their entire community,” Mr. Tames reflected.
Brian Stephens is a longtime NYC public school teacher, presently serving as the music educator at Bardwell Public School 29. His years at P.S. 29 are hallmarked by a strong dedication to ensuring students of all walks and abilities gain an equal opportunity to explore and curate their musical talents. Additionally, he is always keen to give his students a chance to share their talent with the wider community, exemplified by his P.S. 29 Chorus’ regular participation in the Borough President’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting.
“For 30 years, Mr. Stephens has been able to balance all of the work with keeping so many children happy, and teaching them so much,” said Christine Zapata, Principal of P.S. 29. “He is a person that makes his students feel heard, feel seen, and feel that they can do something out of the ordinary.”
“As teachers, what we teach our students is important, but how we make them feel about themselves could stay with them for a lifetime,” Mr. Stephens said. “If we can help our students believe in themselves, discover what they are capable of, and realize that they can accomplish more than they have ever imagined, than we have done something truly worthwhile.”
Following the presentation of the award to our honorees, the attendees gathered around for the unveiling of the updated Patrick Daly Award Plaque with a gold plate commemorating the award’s newest recipients.
“We are fortunate to have caring, good quality people like this year’s winners in our schools, who make our future, and the future of our students, so bright,” Borough President Fossella concluded.
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Banner Image: Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
About The Author
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government.
The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities.
In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough.
As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses.
The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.
Staten Island BP Swears in New Student Government At Elementary School P.S. 48, Winners of Patrick R. Daly Award For Outstanding Educators Announced
BP Vito Fossella 0 Babies and Kids, Culture, Education, Morality and Ethics, Politics, Staten Island Families, Staten Island News, Staten Islander Exclusive
Staten Island BP Swears in New Student Government At Elementary School P.S. 48, Winners of Patrick R. Daly Award For Outstanding Educators Announced
Below are several education-related updates by the borough president, including the swearing in of the new student body government at P.S.48 and the winners of the Patrick R. Daly Award for excellence in education. We covered the Patrick R. Daly award in 2024 and 2023 as well.
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Banner Image: Patrick Daly Award Winner. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Tags: BP Fossella, childhood education, college education, Department of Education, education, education advocacy, education and opportunity, education board, education board members., education brings opportunity, education equality, education equity action plan, education initiatives, education requirements, education rights, educational supports, equal access to education, equality in education, good education, high school education, higher education, invest in education, New York City Department of Education, nyc department of education, Patrick F. Daly Award, proper education, right to education, Vito Fossella, youth education 2 2 comments
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About The Author
BP Vito Fossella
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government. The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities. In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough. As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses. The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.
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