A Message From the Superintendent — Every Connection Creates Opportunity

Dear Aldine ISD Community,

Last week, our team took part in a community walk, visiting families, listening to their stories, answering questions, and helping remove barriers that may stand between students and school. One moment has stayed with me. A student looked at our team and said, “Y’all really care about me.”

Yes, we do.

That simple exchange captures what I believe is at the heart of public education and at the heart of Aldine ISD. Every student deserves to be seen, known, and supported — not only when they are excelling, but also when they need encouragement, resources, a trusted adult, or a reminder that their future matters.

That is what #ChooseAldine means to me. It is more than a hashtag. It is a shared commitment to choose our students, choose one another, and choose the meaningful work of creating choices and opportunities for every child.

Across Aldine, I see that commitment in classrooms, on campuses, in homes, and throughout our community. I see it in the teacher who helps a student find their voice, the counselor who helps a young person envision a path after graduation, the family member who asks one more question, the staff member who notices a need, and the community partner who steps forward to help.

Every connection creates opportunity.

When Students Are Seen, They Can Thrive
One of my greatest joys as superintendent is being in our schools. During recent visits to Anderson Academy, Hill Elementary School, Goodman Elementary School, Aldine Middle School, Jones Middle School and Lewis Middle School, I saw students who were engaged, focused, and excited about learning. I also saw the dedicated teachers and leaders who create the conditions for that learning to happen every day.

Those visits remind me that instructional excellence is not an abstract idea. It is the daily work of knowing students well, planning with purpose, responding to their needs, and maintaining high expectations because we believe in what they can become. This work is central to Accelerate, our strategic plan, and to our responsibility to put Students First.

Supporting students also means caring for the whole child. This month, the Eye Believe Bus brought vision care directly to Aldine students, helping families address a need that can meaningfully affect a child’s ability to learn and participate fully in school. Our Active Kids Program received a $34,000 award from MD Anderson to continue supporting student health and wellness. And Aldine ISD received more than $513,000 through the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, helping us provide students with greater access to nutritious foods during the school day.

These efforts may seem different, but they share one belief: a student’s ability to learn should never be limited by a need we can see and address together.

Belonging Is Part of a Great Education
Students thrive when they see themselves, their families, and their cultures reflected and valued in their schools. As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I am proud of the many ways our campuses are honoring the history, creativity, contributions, and lived experiences that strengthen the Aldine community.

I am also proud of how our students continue to express themselves through the arts. During Arts in Education Week, Aldine celebrated the educators, students, and community partners who ensure that creativity has a place in every child’s education. Our Carver Theatre students were selected for a professional production of Cinderfella, and the Carver Dance Company is preparing to perform at a Houston concert supporting Hunger Action. These are not simply performances. They are opportunities for students to develop confidence, discipline, collaboration, and the courage to share their gifts with the world.

Our students’ talents are being recognized in many ways. Aldine middle-school students swept the first three places in the 2026 Mexican American School Boards Association art contest. At Griggs EC/PreK/K School, International Dot Day reminded students that a small mark can begin a bigger story. At Avalos P-TECH School, students and staff honored the legacy of Ms. Rose M. Avalos with poetry, speeches, and music — a beautiful reminder that excellence is not only something we pursue; it is something we inherit, honor, and extend.

This is the spirit of the Portrait of a Graduate. We want Aldine students to leave us as confident communicators, creative thinkers, collaborators, and leaders who understand both who they are and how they can contribute to the world around them.

Every Pathway Should Lead to Possibility
Our responsibility is to help students see a future that is larger than the circumstances they may face today. That is why Aldine continues to expand pathways to college, career, and life.

This month, approximately 176 high-achieving students began their journey in the Ascend Scholars Program, receiving additional support as they plan for college and pursue ambitious goals. Across our high schools, 46% of students are enrolled in at least one advanced course, including UT OnRamps, Advanced Placement, and dual credit opportunities. These experiences allow students to challenge themselves, earn valuable credit, and begin to imagine themselves in places they may not have considered before.

Career-connected learning is equally important. Through the Robotics Design Challenge, our students are using creativity, engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving to bring ideas to life. At the Transition Expo in October and through BridgeYear career exploration experiences, students and families are learning more about post-high school options and the steps required to reach them. Our AVID students are building the academic habits, confidence, and leadership skills that support college and career readiness. At Avalos P-TECH, we also celebrate Jesús Valadez, a finalist for the Posse Foundation Scholarship, whose achievement reflects the power of student ambition paired with strong support.

The message to every Aldine student is this: your future is not a distant idea. It is being shaped now — through your questions, your effort, your choices, and the adults who are walking beside you.

Families and Community Make Us Stronger
No school district can fulfill its mission alone. Students are most successful when families, schools, and community partners move in the same direction.

I am encouraged by the strong beginning to this year’s Family and Community University. In its first three sessions, more than 300 parents and caregivers have gathered to learn, connect, and grow as partners in their children’s education. This year, we are also expanding the experience through Next Chapter Academy, a new pathway for Family and Community University graduates to strengthen their skills in parent leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, and community impact.

We are also grateful for partnerships that extend support beyond the school day. Loving Schools has created church-school partnerships with 19 Aldine campuses and contributed more than 1,200 volunteer hours. At Lane School, a donation from H-E-B is helping strengthen Family Fridays and create more opportunities for families to connect with their school community. Our Multilingual Department’s partnership with Workforce Solutions will provide emergent bilingual families with career-development workshops focused on resumes and interview skills.

And as we recently celebrated Grandparents Day across our campuses, we were reminded of the profound role grandparents and other caring adults play in a child’s life. I know that role personally. My grandparents helped raise me, and I will always be grateful for the love, guidance, and belief they gave me. When generations come together around a child, they send a powerful message: You matter, and we are here for you.

Strong Schools Require Strong Teams and Strong Advocacy
The work we do for students depends on the people and systems that support them every day. That includes our teachers, bus drivers, child nutrition staff, office teams, custodians, technology professionals, police officers, counselors, nurses, principals, and every member of Team Aldine.

Our Human Resources team continues to collaborate with US PREP and regional education partners to strengthen educator pipelines and address critical workforce needs. This work matters because great teaching and learning begin with attracting, developing, and retaining talented people who are committed to our students.

It also means advocating for the resources that keep our schools connected, safe, and operational. E-Rate funding helps districts maintain the technology and connectivity that support teaching, learning, communication, and safety. For Aldine, that federal support represents approximately $11 million over five years. As policy conversations continue at the federal level, we must stay informed and keep speaking up for the resources our students and staff rely on every day.

This is what it means to build Aligned Systems and Thriving Teams through Accelerate. It means being thoughtful stewards of resources, listening to those closest to the work, and ensuring that the systems behind the scenes help students succeed in the classroom.

Choose Connection. Choose Opportunity. Choose Aldine.
The student who told us, “Y’all really care about me,” reminded us why our work matters. Every home visit, every classroom conversation, every family workshop, every arts performance, every health resource, and every pathway to college or career is an opportunity to show students that they are not alone.

Our work is urgent, but it is also hopeful. We will continue to strengthen instruction, build partnerships, expand opportunities, and create learning environments where every student can grow, lead, and thrive.

I invite every member of the Aldine community to stay connected: ask questions, attend school events, celebrate student growth, communicate with your child’s school, and encourage young people to dream boldly. Together, we can continue building a district where every connection creates opportunity, and every student knows that they are seen, valued, and capable of great things.

Thank you for the trust, energy, and heart you bring to our schools and community each day.

With Aldine pride,

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