Dale Herchman Teaches Life Lessons at Kitty Hawk Middle School!

Principal Yvonne Anglada knows how to throw a surprise party! Two-hundred of Ms. Dale Herchman's students were on hand to celebrate as she was honored with the Golden Apple ExCEL Award for Judson I.S.D.

Through wild cheers, Ms. Herchman accepted her award and praised her young students. "If the student knows that a teacher loves them and cares for them, then I think that there will be good communication and that they will have a successful school year," she said.

Ms. Herchman teaches Family Consumer Science and also sponsors Kitty Hawk's award winning FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) club. She helps the kids learn skills they'll use to interview for jobs and run a household.

Under her guidance, students plant and cultivate a five-plot garden on campus. Then they use the "fruits of their labor" to make organic recipes. "She's really a hands-on teacher and she doesn't treat us just like little kids, you know," said eighth-grader Celeste Rodriguez.

She prepares them not only for high school, but for the rest of their lives.