Aldine ISD Board Recognizes Excellence in Academics, Fine Arts, and Staff Impact

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The Aldine ISD Board of Trustees recognized outstanding students and staff during its March 24 meeting, while also celebrating districtwide achievements in academics, fine arts, and key initiatives.

Aldine Impact Award Winners

The Board of Trustees recognized recipients of the Aldine Impact Award, which honors employees and community members who go above and beyond the call of duty in their respective roles within the district.

Assistant Board Secretary Angela Williams recognized Detrick McAfee, principal of Plummer Middle School; Dr. Dawn Ayers-Rodriguez, chief of Accountability, Assessment, and Analytics; Jacquline Jackson, a nurse at Reed Academy; and Gerald Britt, a diesel technology teacher at Blanson CTE High School.

Board President Dr. Kimberley Booker recognized David Cole Mosby, a senior at Nimitz High School; Paige Levi, a senior at Carver High School; LaTashia Abrams, executive director of the Family and Community Engagement Department; and the new Visionaries Inspiring Black Excellence (VIBE) board members: Dr. Crystal Watson, president; Dr. Marcie Strahan, president-elect; Dr. Shanaya Anderson, treasurer; Dr. Tracy Bailey, secretary and community engagement partnership director; Dr. Cedric Stewart, excellence pipeline director; Chief Diaka Melendez, advocacy and equity director; John Hickman, cultural voice and outreach director; Gina Foroi, at-large representative; and Candis Houston, the Aldine American Federation of Teachers (AFT) director.

Spotlight on Teaching, Learning, and Leading

Chief Transformation Officer Dr. Adrian Bustillos highlighted the district’s theatre and visual arts programs.

During the board meeting, the Eisenhower High School theatre department received a proclamation recognizing March as Theatre in Our Schools Month in Aldine ISD, celebrating the amazing work taking place across the district’s theater programs.

Kaileigh Newman, director of visual arts, highlighted student achievements during Youth Art Month. Students competed in three major art contests: the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Texas Art Education Association Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE), and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Competition.

Aldine ISD earned 62 awards out of 345 entries in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Three students earned the writing Gold Keys, seven earned the art Gold Keys, 15 earned art Silver Keys, and three earned writing Silver Keys. Gold Key recipients included Kelsey Brown (Carver High School); Alisson Garcia and Tanya Sanchez (Aldine High School); Alexandra De Leon, Stephani Leiva (two Gold Keys), and Sarahi Orellana (Blanson CTE High School).

At the TAEA Visual Arts Scholastic Event, 19 students advanced to the state competition, scheduled for April 25 in San Marcos. These students represented Blanson CTE High School, Davis High School, Carver High School, Nimitz High School, and Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

Additionally, 12 prekindergarten through fifth-grade students earned top honors through TAEA. Participating campuses included Reece Academy, Vines Primary, Anderson Academy, Cypresswood Elementary, Escamilla Elementary, Hill Elementary, Kujawa Elementary, and Harris Elementary.

During the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo School Art Auction on March 15, four students earned Best of Show and Gold Medal Honors, with artwork selling for a combined $82,000. Keily Iraheta (Nimitz High School) sold artwork for $25,000; Ta’Mya Holmes (Nimitz High School), $20,000; Angela Hernandez (Blanson CTE HIgh School), $17,000; and Meylin Solozano (Eisenhower High School), $10,000.

Recognition of Students, Staff, and Patrons

Chief Communications Officer Sheila Adams highlighted March events and accomplishments.

The district celebrated International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by wearing purple every Wednesday to show solidarity.
Dr. Booker received the Educator Award at the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc. 79th Southwestern Regional Conference Educational and Business Luncheon.
The Family and Community Engagement Department hosted its Youth Empowerment Summit for sixth-grade girls.
The district held a groundbreaking ceremony for Carver High School on March 9.

FACE Department Recognizes Students for Black History Project

LaTashia Abrams recognized students featured in the “Aldine Talks: Beyond the Classroom” video series, which launched in February in honor of Black History Month.

The series replaced the district’s former Black History Oratory Competition and highlighted student-centered storytelling with students sharing reflections on Black History, identity, excellence, and lived experiences beyond the classroom.

Students recognized were: Carson Norris (Avalos P-TECH School); Alexandria Morris (Davis High School); Treveon Bazile (Carver High School); Orlean Macalalad and Elizabeth Brooks (Young Women’s Leadership Academy); Mai Hoang, Norma Leon, and Gabriela Leon (La Promesa School); Trinity Jewett, Kaleb Brown, Kajuan Hall, Jean Folger, Alexis Akowuah, Ruth Smart, Chloe Ekeji, and Tyree Davis (Blanson CTE High School).

Employees Recognized

During the March 24 board meeting, employees were recognized for their leadership, connections with their fellow employees, and impact on students.

Police Chief Paul Cordova named Officer Trayveon Dixon as the Aldine ISD Police Department’s Employee of the Month.

Aldine ISD SHABE Teachers Recognized

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Faviola Cantu honored the five Aldine educators recognized at the Suburban Houston Association of Bilingual Educators (SHABE) banquet.

Fama Sarr of Plummer Middle School received the Gold distinction for ESL Secondary Teacher of the Year and will represent Aldine at the state Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) competition.

Mirna Orellan of Thompson Elementary School received Silver Distinction for Bilingual Teacher of the Year; Paisley Jack of Garcia-Leza EC/PK/K received Silver distinction for ESL Elementary Teacher of the Year; Maria Shelton of Aldine Middle School received Silver distinction for Language Other Than English (LOTE) Teacher of the Year; and Breanna Jagodzinski from Victory Early College High School received Bronze distinction for ESL Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Board Action Items Approved

The Board of Trustees approved the following action items:

Appointment of Dr. Kimberley Booker and Angela Williams to the Aldine Education Foundation Board of Directors
A recommended list of library materials for purchase developed under board policy EFB (local)
A memorandum of understanding between Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and Aldine ISD for the Community Health & Wellness Division (CH&W) substance use prevention services through Sept. 30, 2028
A memorandum of understanding between San Jacinto College and Aldine ISD for the licensed vocational nurse courses for the 2026-27 school year
An interlocal agreement between Lone Star College and Aldine ISD for college prep courses in English and math for the 2025-26 school year
School closures, boundary rezoning, and school consolidations for the 2023 bond rebuilds during the 2026-27 school year and beyond
Administrator contracts for outside services with vendors
Single contracts and purchases of $100,000 and greater
A board resolution to designate investment officers and authorized investment institution representatives to comply with the Public Funds Investment Act
Annual review of board policy CDA (local) Investment Policy
Revisions to local board policies DGBA, FNG, and GF on grievances.

Prior to the start of the March 24 board meeting, Elizabeth Brooks and Orlean Macalalad of Young Women’s Leadership Academy led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Flag. The Eisenhower High School JROTC presented the colors, and the Harris Academy Mariachi Los Patriotas performed.