Aldine ISD Hosts Virtual Media Event to Announce Newest Choice School for Young Men

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Aldine Independent School District hosted a virtual press event on October 19 to announce the opening of its newest Choice School, a leadership academy focused on the development of young males of color, slated to open during the 2022-2023 school year. The academy is geared toward students in grades first through eighth and is an extension of the district’s five-year strategic plan, A New Way Forward.

The goal of the academy is to provide a culture in which students will thrive as well as opportunities and resources for boys to explore deeper learning, to prepare them for high school and college, and ultimately to close the achievement gap. The school is part of a collaborative partnership with Prairie View A&M University and will also allow students to learn more about community engagement, social justice, and advocacy work.

“The academy was born out of our dedication to student achievement and the belief that every Aldine student deserves to learn in a school where they feel welcomed and safe, where they will graduate with choices and opportunities,” Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney said.

Jonathan Kegler, who currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Jones Middle School, was announced as the academy’s incoming principal at the October school board meeting.

“For this position, it was critical to find someone who not only has a solid awareness of the elementary and middle school experience but who is grounded and has the ability to develop a solid culture that will impress upon these young men the values that we are trying to instill,” Goffney said.

While the location of the academy has been chosen, the district does plan to utilize a current Aldine ISD campus and will announce the official location, as well as the official name, in the coming months. 

The school is set to enroll 125 students for each grade level. Once capacity is reached, additional students may be enrolled utilizing a lottery system.

The media event panelists included: Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Aldine ISD Superintendent of Schools; Sheleah Reed, Aldine ISD Chief of Staff; Adrian Bustillos, Aldine ISD Chief Transformation Officer; Dr. Ruth J. Simmons, President of Prairie View A&M University and Dr. Tyrone Tanner, Executive Director of Prairie View A&M University’s Northwest Houston Center (NWHC), Interim Dean of Graduate Studies, and professor in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education. 

Watch the virtual media event here.