Middle will present award to bus driver who started school reading program
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Mr. Herman reading with Middle Township Elementary #1 student Ayden Green (top), and with Corbyn Conroy (below), who was the bus driver’s first reading student last year.
The feel-good story of Middle Township Public Schools bus driver-turned-reading volunteer Herman Cruse has inspired national media coverage – and plenty of local appreciation.
Middle Township will demonstrate its gratitude by presenting Mr. Herman with a Middle Matters Award at its Dec. 19 Township Committee meeting. The award was created to “recognize residents for their wide variety of endeavors toward building a better Middle Township.”
Mr. Herman is a resident of Egg Harbor City and commutes 40 minutes each way to Middle Township, where he’s worked for the school district since 2013. He was always seeking worthwhile ways to spend his time between his busy morning and afternoon bus runs.
“His routes have always been loaded with students,” said Dawn DeVico, Transportation Coordinator for the Middle Township Board of Education. “He always manages to maintain the students’ behavior with great communication skills. He gets to know his students very well. He takes the time to listen to them and get to know them.”
When a kindergarten teacher from Middle Elementary #1 proudly told Mr. Herman about one of her students learning to read, the bus driver quickly found a new purpose. He volunteered to help other children at the school with their reading and began working with students two days a week last February.
Mr. Herman, a father of five, was a natural with the kids, who appreciated the attention and conversations that accompanied the one-on-one reading sessions. The informal lessons soon blossomed into “Mr. Herman’s Kids,” a three-day-a-week reading program open to all students at Middle Elementary #1.
“He’s a very humble man,” said teacher Alexandrea Byron, whose kindergarten students were the first to get help from Mr. Herman. “He doesn’t brag, he does it because he genuinely wants to.”
But Mr. Herman’s generous work drew praise from many corners. He was recognized at a Middle Township School District Board of Education meeting last April. His story was featured by local and national news outlets, including “Good Morning America.”
And now, Middle Township will honor Mr. Herman for stepping up to help young students.
“Mr. Herman exemplifies the community spirit that makes Middle Township such a special place to live and work,” Mayor Tim Donohue said. “The simple act of giving his time to read with and listen to students makes a huge difference in the lives of these children. We commend Mr. Herman for spreading compassion and we are proud to present him with a Middle Matters Award.”
