AISD’s CN Department Recognized at May 16 Board Meeting for Being No. 1 in Texas

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During the May 16 Board of Trustees meeting, the district’s Child Nutrition Department was recognized for being ranked No. 1 in Texas for providing free, nutritious meals to its students. Chief Operations Officer Fred Washington announced that Aldine ISD’s CN Department was ranked first among large school districts in Texas by Children at Risk’s School Food Rankings. Washington added the department is ranked No. 10 in the nation. The department is comprised of Executive Director Susan D’Amico, Director of Child Nutrition Services Teresa Lane, Assistant Directors Valerie Barr, Andre Crawford, and Chandra Johnson, Dietitian Carrie Allen, Nutritionist Esha Naaz, Chef Richard Popovic, Chef-Catering Manager Michael Glover, Quality Control Trainer Naomi Davis and Accountant Patrick Ona.

Staff Assignments Announced

During the May 16 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney announced several staff assignments.

• After serving as Principal of Sammons Elementary School, Georgina Foroi was named Executive Director of the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department.
• La’Keshia Williams was named Principal of Carver High School after serving as an Assistant Principal at Davis High School.
• After serving as an Assistant Principal at Kujawa Primary School, Leticia Sibrian was named Program Director of Elementary Mathematics.
• Torrance Brooks was named an Assistant Principal at Eisenhower College Prep after serving as an Assistant Principal at Cunningham Middle School in Galena Park.

Teaching, Learning, and Leading Department Highlights Art Students

The Teaching, Learning, and Leading Department highlighted Aldine ISD art students during the May 16 Board meeting. Director of Visual Arts Kaileigh Newman recognized four students who competed in local and state art events. Jacelyn Bodella, an Avalos PTECH High School sophomore, competed at the State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), where she earned a Gold Seal, achieved by only .0004% of artists in Texas. Carver High School juniors Itzel Fernandez and Gabriela Pacheco-Pena have been accepted into the University of Houston’s Wonderworks’ Summer 2023 Program. This program is a pre-college summer program in fiction/creative writing for high school students presented by UH’s Wonderworks and the Department of English and Creative Writing. Carver High School junior Jade Jimenez was awarded a Western Art Academy Scholarship. Jade was a district-level rodeo art competition finalist and submitted her portfolio to the Western Art Academy. Jade will spend four weeks studying oil painting and sculpture this summer at Schreiner University in Kerrville. Newman also recognized Carver Art teacher Hunter Koch for supporting her art students at Carver High School.

Aldine PD Names Employee Of The Month

Aldine ISD Police Chief Paul Cordova named AISD Police Officer Allen Hartman as his department’s Employee of the Month.

May Grants

During May, the district’s Special Programs Department secured two grants.

• Escamilla Elementary School Principal Susan Rehan, Dr. Monica Loas, and teachers Ranesha Southwell, Priscilla Benitez, Jessica Salinas, Monica Wesley, Mary Richardson, and Monica Loas secured a $6,000 grant from Kids in Need to provide supplies for the six teacher’s classrooms.
• Escamilla Elementary teachers Benitez, Ana Pride, Jessica Barrera, Kirstie Polzin, Stephanie Gonzalez, Southwell, Anne Nygard, Ann Gustavus, and Loas also secured a $15,521 grant from Donors Choose to fund learning stations, supplies, interactive learning tools, and recess games.

The two grants totaled $21,521

The Child Nutrition Department members were recognized at the May 16 Board of Trustees meeting for being ranked No. 1 in the state of Texas for providing free, nutritious meals to students. The CN Department was ranked No. 1 in Children at Risk’s School Food Rankings. Pictured with the CN group is Chief Operations Officer Fred Washington.

During the May 16 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the following action items:

• Approved the 2023-24 Allotment and TEKS Certification
• Approved a Principal Residency Grant Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Houston, effective 2023-24
• Approved to submit low attendance waivers to the TEA for Vardeman Primary, Aldine Ninth, Aldine High School and LaPromesa
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Texas at Austin on behalf of the UTTeach Science Program and Aldine ISD regarding field experience for potential teachers for the 2023-24 school year
• Approved single contracts and purchases of $50,000 and greater
• Approved a Board Resolution to designate investment officers and authorized investment institutions and representatives
• Approved a Board Resolution of De-commitment of Fund Balance for the Liability Related to Prior E-Rate Appeal
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Houston-Downtown to support expanding the UHD Bilingual E-Library to support literacy awareness and connectivity among the Hispanic community to begin in August of 2023
• Approved the term contract recommendations, renewals, and extensions for the 20223-24 school year.

Before the May 16 Board meeting, the Stephens Elementary Choir performed in the foyer of the Donaldson Administration Building. The Aldine Police Department Color Guard presented the Colors, while students led the Pledge of Allegiance and Pledge to the Texas Flag from deSantiago Primary School. The June Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 13. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Board Room of the Donaldson Administration Building.