A Message From the Superintendent — The Choices That Build Our Momentum

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Dear Aldine ISD Community,

My grandbaby Trevor, or the Prince, as I affectionately call him, turned one on September 1. Watching him grow, discover new things, and develop his own personality has been one of life’s greatest joys. And as we prepare to celebrate Grandparents Day on September 13, I’m reminded of just how special the role of a grandparent truly is.

Being a grandparent gives you an opportunity to love, encourage, teach, and be present. There’s something special about watching the next generation grow and knowing that, in ways big and small, you have the opportunity to help shape their future. To all of our grandparents and grandparent figures across Aldine ISD: thank you.

Momentum With Meaning
We begin this school year with real momentum. Aldine ISD recently earned academic gains in the Texas Education Agency accountability system for the fourth consecutive year. Three of our high schools were named among the nation’s Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report. And for the 25th consecutive year, our district earned the state’s highest financial accountability rating.

These are accomplishments worth celebrating. They reflect Team Aldine’s talent, commitment, and disciplined work. They honor students’ persistence, educators’ expertise, families’ trust, and the stewardship of those who manage our resources.

But I want us to be clear about what these recognitions mean — and what they do not mean. They are not a finish line. A rating cannot capture every student who gains confidence after struggling with a new skill. A ranking cannot measure every teacher who stays after school, every bus driver who begins the day before sunrise, every counselor who helps a young person see a path forward, or every family member who says, “Keep going. I believe in you.”

The numbers matter because the children behind them matter. They remind us that growth is possible when we remain focused on what works: strong instruction, consistent systems, sound stewardship, and an unwavering belief that every student can learn and grow.

That focus is at the center of Accelerate, our strategic plan. Through Accelerate, we are committed to putting Students First, building Aligned Systems, pursuing Instructional Excellence, and developing Thriving Teams. This is also reflected in our Portrait of a Graduate, which calls us to prepare young people not only with academic knowledge, but also with the skills, confidence, character, and agency to thrive in college, career, and life. Our charge is not simply to help students complete school. It is to help them leave Aldine ISD ready to lead their own lives and contribute to their communities.

Hope Is Built in the Everyday
I often say that hope is not just something we talk about. We build it every day.

We build hope when a teacher helps a student recognize a strength they did not yet see in themselves. We build it when a cafeteria worker greets a child by name; when a custodian creates a clean, welcoming space; when a nurse, counselor, or social worker helps a family navigate a challenge; and when a coach, fine arts director, or club sponsor gives a student a place to belong. We build it when a front-office team member listens with patience, when a family and school communicate openly, and when we make room for students to imagine a future larger than the circumstances they may face today.

That is the heart of #ChooseAldine. It is more than a hashtag. It is a choice to be part of a community that believes every student deserves a dynamic, unparalleled education — one that creates meaningful choices and opportunities today and in the future. It is a shared commitment to choose our students, choose one another, and choose the future we are creating together. It means that we do not allow a ZIP code, a challenge, or a single moment in time to determine the limits of a child’s potential.

Across our district, that commitment is coming to life in meaningful ways. At MacArthur High School, teacher Alexis Ayala recently received a $30,000 Kinder Excellence in Teaching Award — a well-deserved recognition of the powerful impact exceptional educators have on students. At Aldine schools, students are transforming food-truck models into lessons in business, teamwork, and entrepreneurship. Our theater students have earned recognition on an international stage. This year, a record 34 students are serving as CTE Student Ambassadors, developing the leadership and collaboration skills that will serve them long after graduation. And at Nimitz High School, nearly 100 Memorial Hermann professionals are mentoring students in the HEAL program, bringing real-world experience and encouragement into their learning journey. These moments may look different, but they tell the same Aldine story: when students are given encouragement, rigorous learning, and opportunities to explore their gifts, they rise.

We also see that Aldine spirit in the experiences that bring our school communities together. As football, tennis, and water polo seasons get underway, I encourage our families and staff to come out, support our student-athletes, and celebrate the pride they bring to their schools. And recently, we celebrated the final graduates of the Class of 2026 at Summer Graduation. Watching those students cross the stage was a powerful reminder that every graduate has a story — and that in Aldine, we continue creating opportunities for students to persevere, finish strong, and step confidently into what comes next.

And that work belongs to all of us. Whether your role is in a classroom, cafeteria, bus route, office, library, technology department, maintenance shop, or boardroom, you help create the conditions for student success. Every role matters. Every interaction matters. Every day is an opportunity to make a difference.

Every Day Counts
September is National School Attendance Month, and its message is simple: every day counts.

Learning builds day by day. When students are present, they connect to instruction, relationships, routines, and the caring adults ready to help them. They are present for the lesson that unlocks a new understanding, the conversation that builds confidence, the practice that turns effort into growth, and the opportunity that may spark a new dream.

To our families, I ask that you prioritize daily attendance and stay in close communication with your child’s school whenever challenges arise. We are here to partner with you. Our new Family and Caregiver Partnership Framework reflects that shared responsibility and calls us to engage, empower, leverage, and lead alongside the families we serve. To our students, please know this: your presence matters. Your voice matters. Your future matters. Come ready to learn, ask for help when you need it, and remember that an entire Aldine community is cheering you on.

Choosing the Future Together
Our work this year is both urgent and hopeful. We will continue to strengthen reading, mathematics, and meaningful learning experiences. We will continue to expand access to advanced coursework, career and technical education, dual-credit opportunities, fine arts, athletics, leadership, and specialized programs. We will continue to listen to families and build stronger partnerships, because students do best when the adults in their lives are moving in the same direction.

For our secondary students and families, Aldine ISD’s College Night on Sept. 28 is one opportunity to take the next step. I encourage you to attend, ask questions, connect with colleges and career representatives, and dream boldly. A future plan begins with a conversation, a question, and a willingness to imagine what is possible.

As we move through this new school year, let us remember that progress is not accidental. It is built through consistent, purposeful action: a student choosing to attend and engage; an educator choosing to meet each learner’s needs; a family choosing to stay connected; and a community choosing to invest in its children.

There is no better time to strengthen that connection than now, and I encourage our families to attend their school’s Fall Open House this September — an opportunity to meet teachers, learn more about your child’s school experience, ask questions and build the relationships that help our students thrive.

In Aldine, we are not waiting for a better future to arrive. We are building it — one student, one classroom, one relationship, and one opportunity at a time.

I remain hopeful about this school year because I have already seen what happens when our students, staff, families, and community choose to believe in one another. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We also have a lot to celebrate. And I cannot wait to see what we choose to accomplish together.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent of Schools
Aldine Independent School District