Aldine ISD Family and Community University Celebrates 150 Graduates

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The district’s Family and Community Engagement Department honored parents and caregivers who completed free courses designed to empower families, schools, and the Aldine community.

Aldine ISD celebrated 150 parents and caregivers at the Family and Community University Graduation Ceremony, honoring families who met program requirements through the district’s Family and Community Engagement Department.

The evening gathering at Davis High School celebrated the Family and Community University Class of 2026 and underscored the vital role families play in fostering student achievement.

This school year, nearly 300 parents and caregivers enrolled in Family and Community University, advancing the program’s reputation as a foundational district approach to inspire family engagement and strengthen ties among home, school, and community.

Learning That Strengthens Families

Family and Community University (FCUniversity) provides free learning opportunities for Aldine ISD families. Through the program, parents and caregivers build skills, confidence, and knowledge they can use at home, in the workplace, and as active partners in their children’s education.

LaTashia Abrams, Aldine ISD executive director of Family and Community Engagement, said the program reflects the district’s commitment to building meaningful partnerships with families.

“Family and Community University is about honoring the role families play in student success,” Abrams said. “When parents and caregivers have opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with their schools, that impact reaches far beyond one class or one ceremony. It strengthens the entire Aldine community.”

That message connects directly to Aldine ISD’s 2025-2026 theme, #AldineStory. Each graduate represents a story of commitment, perseverance, and family leadership — parents and caregivers who chose to show up, keep learning, and model what is possible for their children and community.

A Graduation Moment for the Whole Family

The ceremony featured remarks from Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney and Iván Tamayo, FACE specialist and lead for FCUniversity offerings. Graduate speakers Jessica Jenkins and Ana Morales also shared reflections on what the program has meant for them and their families. Daniel Meza, Aldine ISD’s civic engagement specialist, also spoke at the event.

Goffney said Family and Community University was created to send a clear message to families: Aldine ISD believes in them, too.

“When families grow, students thrive. And when students thrive, our entire community rises,” Goffney said. “That is the #AldineStory. And tonight, every one of you is living it.”

FCUniversity marked a step toward greater confidence, communication, and involvement for many graduates.

Morales, an FCUniversity graduate and parent, said the program helped her strengthen her English skills and better support her children at home.

“For me, taking these classes has been a wonderful experience; the interaction with my teacher and classmates has helped me improve my English comprehension and reading skills,” Morales said. “Now, I understand my children better when they speak English. They say to each other, ‘Mom actually understands us!’ And I tell them, ‘Of course, I understand you!’ My young son is learning English, and now I can help him with his homework using what I have learned.”

From Parent to Graduate

That kind of impact is at the heart of FCUniversity.

In recent years, several program graduates have joined the Aldine ISD team as paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, and advocates in their school communities. District leaders have heard from participants who applied their learning to overcome communication obstacles at work and at home, strengthen bonds with their children, and cultivate confident connections with teachers and school staff.

Tamayo said the program is designed to meet families where they are and help them take the next step in their personal and educational journey.

“FCUniversity gives families access to tools, resources, and learning experiences that help them advocate for themselves and their children,” Tamayo said. “Every course is designed with our families in mind — their goals, their questions, their challenges, and their hopes for the future.”

The ceremony was a visible achievement for graduates’ children, families, and school communities.

“You walked in as a parent. You are leaving as a graduate,” Goffney said. “And somewhere in your family — whether they know it yet or not — a child is watching what you did here tonight. And they will remember it.”

Registration Opens Aug. 12

All classes and events offered through FACE are free. Family and Community University is designed to empower Aldine ISD families by connecting them with learning opportunities, district resources, and community partnerships that support personal growth and stronger school-family relationships.

Registration for the 2026-2027 Family and Community University classes opens Aug. 12. Interested families may register online or at designated school sites. Classes will begin on Sept. 14.

Abrams said the graduation ceremony is a celebration of what happens when families are seen as essential partners in education.

“Our graduates remind us that learning does not stop when we leave school,” Abrams said. “They are showing their children that growth is always possible, and they are helping write a stronger #AldineStory for their families and for our district.”

Aldine ISD celebrates FCUniversity graduates’ accomplishments and the example set for their children.

In Aldine ISD, all means all — and through Family and Community University, that commitment includes students, families, and the community growing together.