Emerald Society
New York City Department of Education
2026 Emerald Society
Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Meredith McDermott - Chief of Sustainability
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Michael Herron - United Federation of Teachers
Irish Elementary Principal of the Year
Tara O'Brien - PS 207, The Godwin Terrace School, CSD 10
Irish Middle School Principal of the Year
Ellen Barrett-Kelly - JHS 144, The Michelangelo School, CSD 11
Irish Assistant Principal of the Year
Terence Tyler-Caufield - PS 177, The Marlboro School, CSD 21
Irish Teacher of the Year
Kelly Gallagher-Henning - Queens Instructional Technology Team, CSD 27
Inaugural Irish Paraprofessional of the Year
Margaret Fitzsimons - PS 176 (D75), CSD 11
Irish Custodian of the Year
Robert Troeller - President of Local 891, International Union of Operating Engineers
Scholarship Recipients
Lauren Cullinan
John Edwards
Conor Finn
Thomas Fischer
Rory Flynn
Maeve Grace
Taylor LeBourhis
Jonah Mangan
Enya McClean
Elizabeth Meade
Molly O'Brien
Calian Sudijono
2025 Emerald Society
Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Cristine Vaughan - Superintendent, CSD 11
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Dr. Joseph O'Brien - Deputy Superintendent, CSD 20
Irish Woman of the Year
Susan Rippe Hofmann - CSA Conference Chair
Irish Principal of the Year
Eileen Herusso - Seth Low Junior HS, CSD 21
Irish Administrator of the Year
Melinda McFadden - EA Administrator of Special Ed, CSD 10
Irish Leadership Coach of the Year
Dr. Cathriona Murphy - EA Leadership Coach, CSD 25
Irish Teacher of the Year
Megan O'Brien - PS 81, CSD 10
Irish Custodian of the Year
William Carroll - Sunset Park High School & Parkside Community Complex, CSD 15
Scholarship Recipients
Sara Callaghan
Michael Carmody
Abigail Doherty
Delilah Leykam
2024 Emerald Society
Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Mark Collins – Director of the UFT Grievance Unit
Irish Administrator of the Year
Audrey Mangan - Instructional Specialist, Manhattan Transition & College Center
Irish Teacher of the Year
Brian Harrington - Bronx Latin MS/HS, Bronx
Irish Custodian of the Year
Kevin Troy - Custodian Engineer, K989, Brooklyn
Irish Elementary School Principal of the Year
Maureen O'Neill - Principal, PS 56, Bronx
Irish Middle School Principal of the Year
Janice Geary - Principal, JHS259, Brooklyn
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Erin Lynch - Deputy Superintendent, District 21, Brooklyn
Irish Woman of the Year
Jen Potter - Principal, PS 112, Brooklyn
Scholarship Recipients
Nick DeFabio
Christopher Flynn
Thomas Flynn
Avril Leykam
Patrick Manning
Devin Murdoch
Caitlin O'Brien
Kerry Woods
2023 Emerald Society
Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Michael Sill – Assistant Secretary, UFT
Irish Administrator of the Year
Stephen O’Brien – Director of Strategic Partnerships and Policy,
Office of Food and Nutrition Services
Irish HS Principal of the Year
Heather Adelle – Principal, John Dewey High School
Irish Custodian of the Year
William Carroll – Retired Custodian Engineer, IS 88K
Irish MS Principal of the Year
Patrick Burns – Principal, IS 217Q
Irish ES Principal of the Year
Anne Kirrane – Principal, 81X
Irish Teacher of the Year
Erin Betito – Teacher, P224Q
NYCDOE Emerald Society Scholarship Recipients 2022-2023
Emma Cullinan - Helen Marie McMahon Scholarship
Caterina Cirone - James Dougherty Scholarship
Bridget Motley - Bridget Laura O'Shea Scholarship
2020-2022 Emerald Society
Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Kevin Moran-Chief School Operations Officer
Irishman of the Year
Jonathan Daly-Principal of Eximius College Prep. Acad. D9
Irishwoman of the Year
Lorraine O'Shea Willsea-Teacher at D75 P168X
Irish Teacher of the Year
Dennis Gault-UFT District 1 Representative
Irish Principal of the Year
Angela O’Dowd-Principal of D27-PS62Q
Irish Custodian of the Year
Michael King-Custodian Engineer D10 X080/843
Irish D75 Principal of the Year
Barbara Tremblay-Principal of 721K
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Frank Cassidy - In Memoriam
Bronx Director of School Improvement
2019 Emerald Society Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Mary Ellen Elia -NYSED Commissioner
Irishwoman of the Year
Donna McGuire- Assistant Principal, PS/IS 18 D6
Irishman of the Year
Michael Mulgrew- President, UFT
Irish Teacher of the Year
Loretta Brosnan Tumbarello - Teacher, PS 229 D24
Irish Principal of the Year
Desmond Park- P 224, D75
Irish Custodian of the Year
Michael Reilly- Custodian Engineer, NYCDOE
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Lawrence Pendergast- Exec. Director Queens North
Scholarship Recipients
Nicole Brosnan - John Rehill Scholarship
Kylie Brosnan - James Dougherty Scholarship
Amanda Nolan- Dr. Philip A. Bolger Scholarship
2018 Emerald Society Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Maureen Salter
Irishwoman of the Year
Jane Murphy- PS 185M
Irishman of the Year
Frank Patterson- CSA Bronx
Irish Teacher of the Year
Laura Burns- Teacher, P226M
Irish Principal of the Year
Penny Ryan- P811Q
Irish Custodian of the Year
Edward Briar Jr. - Local 891
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
William Ahearn- Field Support Center
2017 Emerald Society Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Doris Meyer
Irishwoman of the Year
Heather Leykam, P53K
Irish Teacher of the Year
Lorraine Prout
Irish Principal of the Year
Steve Noonan
Irish Administrator of the Year
Desmond Flynn, Ph.D.
Irish Custodian(s) of the Year
Gary & Joan O'Niell
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
James Harrigan
2016 Emerald Society Annual Scholarship
Dinner-Dance Award Recipients
Irish Pro Deo et Patria
Alice O'Neil, UFT
Irishwoman of the Year
Margaret McMahon, Asst. Legislative Director Local 891
Irish Teacher of the Year
Kathleen Travers, Teacher P37R
Irish Principal of the Year
Margaret Russo, PS160K
Irish Administrator of the Year
Barbara Joseph, Deputy Superintendent District 75
Irish Ombudsman of the Year
Raymond Gregory, Asst. Field Director, CSA