A Message From Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent

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Dear Aldine Community,

Long-Range Planning Committee
As we continue moving forward on current priorities and goals, we are also planning for the future. Last week, I met with the long-range planning committee to take a deep dive into the community’s ever-changing needs. The group, comprised of different district stakeholders — teachers, campus staff, school leaders, parents, community members, students, and district administrators — is focused on determining how the district can best prepare for optimized student learning and facility needs. I am grateful for the work committee members are doing, and I’m excited about what lies ahead.

Aldine AFT’s Legislative Town Hall
I want to thank State Representatives Armando Walle and Jarvis Johnson, who joined me on a panel moderated by Candis Houston, president of the Aldine American Federation of Teachers. It is always great to meet with local leaders and discuss how we can work together to support public education. The result is increased access to high-quality schools and learning experiences for all our students.

#LiteracyMatters Conference Hits it Out of the Park!
Literacy is a key ingredient to improved student outcomes. We had 1,100 educators, change agents, and individuals wanting to transform literacy join us on Saturday virtually at our third annual #LiteracyMatters Conference. We shared our literacy journey, and they heard from experts about foundational literacy and the science of reading. Thank you for making this event a success.

Feedback Matters
I was thrilled to connect with our first-year principals and discuss their passions and concerns. I am grateful for their feedback and thankful for their leadership. Their honesty and openness are invaluable in guiding our direction and planning how we can better assist campus leaders in serving all students.

Bookworm Festival a Success!
And while I couldn’t attend in person, I heard that the 2023 Bookworm Festival was also a success. It was the first time the event was fully bilingual so that even more families and students could enjoy and be inspired by some of their favorite authors and illustrators. A big thank you to Blue Willow Books for the opportunity to collaborate on this great family event. And much gratitude to the multilingual and library services departments for working together and making it happen for our youngest readers!

Celebrations
It is hard to believe that we are already in the middle of Black History Month! I recently attended the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Black Heritage Committee Gala and the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators Teachers of the Year (HAABSE). The Houston Rodeo’s Black Heritage Committee promotes the rodeo within the African American community while highlighting the pioneer spirit and western heritage of individuals in Houston and throughout the state. It is dedicated to providing funds for scholarships while celebrating Black Heritage Day during the Rodeo.

Each year, the HAABSE Outstanding Teacher Awards and Recognition Ceremony celebrates teachers who continue to go above and beyond to serve their students and campus community. Congratulations to all the HAABSE winners and nominees, including our educators that represented Aldine ISD!

Black History Month
Remember, we have two more spirit dress days this month: Friday, February 17, is HBCU or Divine 9 Attire Day, and Friday, February 24, is Go Texan Day! I will wear my sorority colors, and I look forward to seeing you share your HBCU or Divine 9 colors this Friday! 

Soñadores Summit
You have often heard me say that all means all in Aldine. To make good decisions, you need good information. The district will host a Soñadores  Summit on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aldine High School. The event, targeting immigrants, DACA, and undocumented students across the district, will offer a college and resource fair, sessions, a guest speaker, college access, and immigration services. The summit is an excellent opportunity for all soñadores (DREAMERs). Stay connected to hear details as they become available.

Preparing and Supporting Our Teachers Supports Student Learning
Again, all means all in Aldine. We have a diverse population of students that we are entrusted with every day. Our staff goes above and beyond in preparing and supporting our teachers. They go out and share, for example, with future bilingual teachers at Sam Houston State University how we support biliteracy and bilingual teachers.

From working with local colleges like UH to recruit more men of color and out-of-state colleges to recruiting internationally, we do what it takes to ensure our students have high-quality teachers. At the beginning of the school year, I mentioned we hired 42 international teachers. I am happy to announce that the district’s international teachers are all returning to teach at Aldine for the 2023-2024 school year. You read correctly: that is a 100% retention rate! Thank you to our HR staff and many others for welcoming our teachers. And thank you to the 42 who have chosen to live in a different country — far away from their families — to teach our students!

Teacher Job Fair!
Without a doubt, at Aldine, we take care of our teachers! And we are always looking for great teachers. If you know of incredible teachers, soon-to-be college graduates, retired teachers considering coming back into the classroom, and individuals with a bachelor’s degree looking to switch careers, invite them to our Spring 2023 Teacher Job Fair on March 4!  We are offering incentive pay for recruiting teachers!

Congrats to the Principals of the Year!
It is always fun to celebrate staff members doing good work. I spent a portion of the day surprising the Principals and Rookie Principal of the Year yesterday. Congratulations to Elementary School Principal of the Year Constance White from Hill Elementary School, Secondary School Principal of the Year Ben Ibarra from Blanson CTEHS, and Rookie Principal of the Year Sherree Johnson from Griggs EC/PreK/K. Good Job! Good Job! G-Double-O-D J-O-B! Good Job! Good Job! We will celebrate them and our Teachers of the Year at our annual breakfast next month.

Good Luck!
We have students who advanced to the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston. A little bird told me that judges would announce the winners going to the state event and special merit award recipients on Saturday. I wish all students the best! Congratulations on your outstanding work on making it to regionals.

Have a great rest of the week!

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent of Schools
Twitter: @drgoffney
Contact Me

UPCOMING & ONGOING EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY

• Feb. 13-April 21: Free GED and ESL classes for AISD parents with a student enrolled in the bilingual or ESL program in AISD. Click here for details and to register.
• Feb. 25: Choice Schools Application Event (click here for details)
• April 15: Soñadores Summit from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aldine High School; stay connected for details about the DREAMERs event
• Now-Apr. 22: AISD’s Health Services Department is holding monthly CPR classes. (click here)
• Ongoing: Read to the Final Four® Competition has elementary students reading in a March Madness tournament. Follow us on Twitter to see which school is leading the district competition! Click here to read more.
• Ongoing: Family and Community University’s 2022-2023 — Click here to register.
• Ongoing: iEducate is hiring college students, especially Aldine ISD grads, as tutors to work with Aldine ISD students. iEducate accepts applications on a rolling basis, and interested students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHT
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RECENT NEWS & ALDINE ISD PODCAST

• District to Host a Choice Schools Application Event on February 25 Before the Next Lottery
• February is CTE Month: AISD Offers Over 50 Career and Technical Education Programs
• Eisenhower College Prep to Open in Fall 2023
• Spring 2023 – Teacher Job Fair, March 4
• 2023-2024 AISD School Year Calendars Are Now Available!

MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS
February

CTE Month
Financial Aid Awareness Month
Magnet School Month
Black History Month

• Feb. 17: Student Holiday/Staff Development (Traditional Calendar)
• Feb. 20: Presidents Day (Student Holiday in All Schools)
• Feb. 23: ENVI2ION School Day (ADSY Calendar)
• Feb. 24: Go Texas Day!

*Click here to view the 2022-2023 school year calendars — traditional and Additional Days School Year (ADSY).

REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

• Outside food and beverages are prohibited on the premises of secondary schools (middle school, ninth-grade schools, and high schools). Click here for details.
• The state requires high school seniors to apply for financial aid to graduate. — FAFSA Application link or TASFA Application links
• The state requires all entering college students to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment. (details).
• Aldine ISD’s top priorities are students’ safety and academic success. The district posts information related to protocols along with any updates at www.aldineisd.org/healthalerts.

FOLLOW US!

Stay connected by visiting AldineISD.org. Check out our District News and Aldine ISD Podcast pages to stay updated on all the great things happening in our district. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.