A School Called Hope: La Promesa’s First Graduates Step Forward

Disponible en:

Rooted in the heart of Aldine ISD, a quiet revolution in education has unfolded since 2021. It began with a vision — a promise — to create a school that honors students’ languages, cultures, and dreams. That vision is blooming into reality this May as La Promesa prepares to celebrate its very first graduating class.

In just a few days, 82 students from the Class of 2025 will walk the stage as graduates and trailblazers — the founding class of a campus built on belonging, empowerment, and pride in one’s roots.

La Promesa launched in 2021 with support from the School Action Fund as a dual-language high school designed for students in the U.S. for three years or less. With a 50/50 instructional model in English and Spanish, the school helps students become bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural — preparing them for college, careers, and a globally connected future. But beyond academics, La Promesa offers something more: a place to belong.

“We wanted our students to feel seen, heard, and valued — not just for what they were learning, but for who they are,” said Principal Ana Fernanda Flores-Bolívar. “Here, we teach them that you don’t have to leave your roots behind to succeed. You can grow stronger by embracing them.”

Flores-Bolívar said her goal from the start was to build a place where every student could walk in feeling powerful.

“I wanted to create a space where students could be proud of who they are, where they came from, and where they are going,” she said. “Where their heritage was a strength, not a challenge.”

As an educator and an immigrant, she believes that pouring into her students is a way to build something lasting.

“I truly believe that you have to give to others in order to receive,” she said. “The more I pour into my community, the better my community becomes.”

A mother of two sons, Flores-Bolívar said she hopes they grow up in a world that celebrates language, culture, and global perspective.

Principal Ana Fernanda Flores-Bolívar at La Promesa, the school she helped launch for newcomer and dual-language students.

“I want them to live in a community that encourages speaking other languages, living abroad, embracing differences,” she said. “This little microcosm we’ve built at La Promesa — I hope it shows the world that we can live in peace and harmony with our differences. You have to talk, listen, laugh, and seek understanding.”

Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, who first announced the vision for La Promesa back in 2020, reflected on the significance of this moment and the promise fulfilled:

“Five years ago, I promised we would create a school where newcomers to our country could be seen, supported, and celebrated,” said Goffney. “Today, La Promesa stands as proof that we’ve honored that promise — and this first graduating class is the living embodiment of it. These students have overcome challenges, embraced opportunities, and inspired us with grit and grace. I’m proud of the community that the principal and her team have built — a place that affirms every child’s story, language, and potential. La Promesa is more than a name. It’s a movement.”

That philosophy shapes every corner of the school — from morning announcements led by students to hallway conversations in two languages to ambitious goals in academics and leadership. And on May 31, their hard work will culminate in one event: La Promesa’s Class of 2025 is ready to step into the world prepared, proud, and purposeful.

“We Just Needed the Right Tools”

The journey has been transformative for Wensly Erazo, the valedictorian of La Promesa High School’s first graduating class. Originally from Honduras, Wensley remembers her first day as “a little scary” but also the beginning of something special.

“It was my first time feeling truly comfortable in a school,” she said. “Now I feel more confident, more outspoken — learning English and Spanish here wasn’t just academic. It helped me become myself.”

She plans to study psychology at the University of Houston.

“Back in my country, the American dream felt far away. But now, I believe it’s real — because I’m living it.”

When asked to sum it all up in one word, she said: “Fun.”

“I went through a lot to get here, but I enjoyed every moment,” she said.

Valedictorian Wensley Eraso (right) and Salutatorian Monica Martinez (left), trailblazers of La Promesa’s first graduating class.

“Perseverance is My Word”

Mónica Martínez, the Class of 2025’s salutatorian, calls La Promesa her “safe place” over the last four years. “I was nervous on my first day — and I’m nervous again now,” she said. “But this time, it’s about what’s next.”

Born in El Salvador, Mónica is already a licensed real estate agent. She plans to continue working while pursuing her education at the University of Houston.

“La Promesa showed me that language should not be a barrier. Being bilingual allows you to make a bigger impact.”

Her word for the journey? Perseverance

“This school taught me how to overcome obstacles and stay focused on my goals,” she said.

A Culture of Excellence and Empowerment

Principal Flores-Bolívar shares one of her proudest memories: watching students in the education CTE program go from first-time competitors at the regional level to winning first place at nationals.

“We didn’t know what we were doing that first time,” she said. “But one by one, they kept advancing — until they won first place in the nation.”

La Promesa’s dual-language approach doesn’t just improve language skills — it builds confidence and deepens family bonds.

“When you forget your language, you lose your connection to your family,” Flores-Bolívar said. “Being bilingual keeps that connection alive. It opens doors and builds bridges.”

Though the school began by serving newcomer students from predominantly Hispanic backgrounds, its diversity continues to grow.

“I want this to be a school for my Pakistani, Filipino, and Vietnamese students too,” she said. “A school where everyone is loved and encouraged to thrive — because we all love the same way.”

The Road Ahead

Principal Flores-Bolívar envisions La Promesa becoming a truly international, dual-language campus.

“We’re just getting started,” she said. “Our students prove that your background doesn’t limit your future — it strengthens it.”

And to the first class preparing to walk across the La Promesa graduation stage, she offers a message filled with love and hope — a reflection of everything the school stands for: “Go out into the world and live your lives with love, patience, and perseverance. And remember — your La Promesa family will always be here for you.”