Aldine ISD Partners With Children’s Museum Houston to Bring Hands-on STEAM Learning to Goodman Elementary Students

At Goodman Elementary School, learning continues long after the dismissal bell rings.

Aldine ISD and Children’s Museum Houston partnered to provide students with hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities to spark curiosity and creativity.

The district signed an MOU with Children’s Museum Houston in December 2025 to launch the A’STEAM (Afterschool Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) program at Goodman Elementary, effective Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026.

The after-school program launched Jan. 26 and meets on Mondays until 6 p.m. It offers students opportunities for interactive investigations, engineering challenges, and collaborative problem-solving designed by Children’s Museum Houston educators.

Currently, the program serves Goodman Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders, with all spaces filled. The program is free to participating families.

“Partnerships like this help us expand meaningful learning opportunities for our students,” said Dr. Javier Villarreal, Aldine ISD chief of schools. “By connecting students with hands-on STEAM experiences, we are helping them build curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills that will serve them well in the future.”

Principal LaDon Ward credited a community connection for arranging the opportunity after the campus’s prior after-school partnership ended.

Previously, Goodman Elementary offered after-school programs with the YMCA. When the YMCA could not continue for 2025-2026, its leaders connected Villarreal with Children’s Museum Houston, enabling this new program.

Goodman Elementary, one of Aldine ISD’s Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) campuses, was selected to follow the ACE model in 2019, providing students with additional enrichment that supports academic engagement and exploration.

The partnership supports the district’s Accelerate strategic plan, which aims to expand student opportunities and prepare them for future-ready pathways through innovative instruction and community partnerships.

Though all current program spots are filled, district leaders hope to extend the partnership to additional Aldine ISD campuses interested in after-school enrichment.

If you’d like to learn more about the program, please contact Goodman Elementary for details.