Aldine ISD Celebrates the Growing Journey of Biliteracy

As fifth graders José Quintero and Melisa Burnett welcomed the audience at Aldine ISD’s 2026 Seal of Biliteracy Trajectories Celebration, the two Black Elementary students switched naturally between English and Spanish, each presenting in a language that was not their first.

The moment reflected the spirit of the ceremony itself: students growing in confidence, embracing bilingualism, and discovering the opportunities that come with speaking more than one language.

Held May 11 at the M.O. Campbell Education Center, the annual celebration recognized students across multiple grade levels who are developing bilingualism and biliteracy through Aldine ISD’s multilingual programs. From elementary students receiving milestone pins to graduating seniors earning biliteracy cords, the event honored language not only as an academic achievement, but also as a source of identity, connection, and empowerment.

Throughout the celebration, speakers encouraged students to embrace bilingualism as a lifelong strength capable of opening doors across cultures, careers, and communities.

Dr. Faviola Cantú, Aldine ISD’s chief academic officer, reminded students that their ability to speak, read, and write in two languages prepares them for leadership and future success.

“Your ability to speak, read, and write in two languages makes you prepared for college, career, leadership, and life,” Cantú said. “Two languages is powerful.”

Building Confidence Through Language

Keynote speaker Ovi Vázquez, an author and national leadership speaker, shared his personal journey of immigrating from a small town in Guatemala to the United States as a teenager and overcoming adversity through education and language.

Throughout his remarks, Vázquez encouraged students to take pride in their accents, cultures, and bilingual identities. His message remained consistent throughout the ceremony: speaking more than one language is a strength.

At the heart of the celebration were the student recognitions themselves.

This year, Aldine ISD recognized all 140 fifth-grade students in the Two-Way Dual Language Program for reaching the second milestone in their biliteracy trajectory. Each student received a commemorative pin and certificate recognizing their progress. Additionally, 1,445 fifth-grade students in the district’s One-Way Dual Language Program will also be honored on their home campuses for reaching the same milestone.

The district also awarded 518 graduating seniors with Seal of Biliteracy graduation cords after meeting the requirements for the Texas Education Agency’s Bilingualism and Biliteracy Performance Acknowledgement. The number of students receiving the recognition has continued to grow in recent years.

 For students like Mia Figueroa, a graduating senior from Avalos P-TECH, the recognition represented years of growth and preparation for the future.

“Having two languages makes us powerful,” Figueroa said. “It gives us more opportunities and helps prepare us for the real world.”

For younger students, bilingualism already represents connection and confidence.

“When I go to Mexico, I can talk to my grandparents in Spanish,” said fifth grader Phoenix Lemus from Thompson Elementary. “I’m still practicing, but I’m getting better every year.”

Melisa Burnett, one of the student hosts from Black Elementary, said learning Spanish has helped her connect with more people and build friendships.

“Learning Spanish helps me connect with more people, make friends, and help others,” she said.

A Growing Pathway for Multilingual Learners

The Seal of Biliteracy Trajectories framework, developed by the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE), recognizes milestones students reach on their path toward bilingualism and biliteracy from elementary school through graduation. Aldine ISD’s Two-Way Dual Language Program launched in 2019 and continues expanding each year toward a full K-12 pathway.

Aniyushka Martín, Aldine ISD’s executive director of multilingual services, said the program will expand to seventh grade at Mead Middle School during the 2026-2027 school year as the district continues building long-term pathways for multilingual learners.

This year also marked another major academic achievement celebrated during the event. Twenty-nine fifth graders in the Two-Way Dual Language Program met Texas Education Agency requirements to earn high school Spanish I credit while still in elementary school. Martín said that number may continue to increase as additional state assessment results become available.

Language as Legacy

For Aldine ISD, the celebration represents more than academic recognition. It also reflects the district’s continued commitment to bilingualism, biliteracy, and cultural understanding.

“This celebration underscores our conviction that language is not a barrier, but a bridge to other cultures,” Martín said. “We want our students to thrive as global citizens.”

Cristina Sizemore, a multilingual instructional coach, closed the event by reflecting on her own multilingual journey and encouraging students to embrace their identities and experiences with pride.

“Speaking more than one language is not a challenge students need to overcome,” Sizemore said. “It’s a strength to celebrate.”

As families applauded and students proudly held their certificates, cords, and milestone pins, the ceremony closed with a reminder that bilingualism is more than an academic accomplishment. For Aldine ISD students, it represents heritage, opportunity, and the ability to move confidently between cultures and communities — carrying their voices, stories, and futures in more than one language.

*Families interested in Aldine ISD’s multilingual and dual language programs can learn more about Choice Schools and application opportunities for incoming kindergarten students by visiting Aldine ISD Choice Schools.

*Applications are available through the district’s online portal at SchoolMint Application Portal.