A Message From Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent

Dear Aldine Community,

Each year, Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate African Americans’ significant contributions and achievements throughout history, recognizing their profound impact on our society and culture. This month is an opportunity to continue the march toward equality and justice while understanding and appreciating the rich diversity and resilience of the African American community. By dedicating this month to learning about and reflecting on our history and the role African Americans played in the growth of our country, we can foster a more inclusive and compassionate world. The theme for this year is “Art as a Platform for Social Justice.” Through Black art, we can see the Black community’s beauty, resilience, strength, and struggles they have faced and overcome. Celebrating through the arts is a powerful reminder that Black history is not just a series of events but a vibrant, ongoing story constantly being told and retold. Campuses across the district will be celebrating with planned events, and we also have our Annual AISD Student Oratory Contest. Staff at our administrative buildings will also have opportunities to join and connect with their colleagues in festivities from dress-up days to music, art, food connections, a panel discussion, and a book study.

Black History Month reminds us of giants who broke barriers for African Americans. John Lewis’ quote has inspired me to lead with a higher power in mind and live the dream. As a Black woman of color, I owe a debt of gratitude to our ancestors who made sacrifices. I am driven to give all children the opportunity to succeed and provide them with the necessary skills. Our work in public education will leave an indelible mark on current and future generations — we must continue building a legacy of hope for all children.

I want to recognize a group of extraordinary individuals — school counselors. School counselors play a crucial role in removing barriers to learning and promoting student success. They address academic concerns, career options, and social-emotional skills, providing a valuable resource for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. As a student in school, I was blessed with the best counselor, Ms. Allen, who helped me in so many ways. Let’s take a moment to thank our school counselors this week. I would love to see your posts, so use the hashtags #MyAldine and #SchoolCounselingWeek.

As with every issue of this newsletter, it is chock-full of the latest news and information. You’ll find a link to a PDF with how staff at the administrative buildings are celebrating BHM, stories about student and staff achievements, a round-up of the FFA Livestock Show — to all who came out supporting our students, thank you — discover which schools were bestowed National Merit School Awards from Magnet Schools of America, cheer for our inaugural UIL inclusive basketball team that is now Area 2 Champions, and so much more!

With Aldine Pride!

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent of Schools
Aldine ISD

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