AISD Superintendent Challenges Students to Read 1 Million Minutes in 2024-25 School Year

The theme for the PreK through Grade 12 challenge, which launches on December 2, is Aldine Accelerate!

Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney invites all Aldine ISD students to participate in a collective effort to ignite a love for reading through the district’s Superintendent’s Reading Challenge. Together, we aim to read one million minutes, with students across the district participating in a friendly campus competition to be named the monthly reading champions.

Launching on December 2, the challenge invites students from all grade levels to use Beanstack’s interactive digital reading platform to turn pages into points. Beanstack, with its fun and engaging features, allows students to log reading sessions, track progress, and bring the joys of literature to life. The challenge will run until May 2, promising all participants a fun-filled and exciting reading journey.

Click on the image to view a message from Dr. Goffney about the Superintendent’s Reading Challenge.

“Reading is not only a foundation for academic success but a doorway to new worlds, perspectives, and possibilities,” said Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “Through this challenge, I hope to inspire every student to discover the lifelong value of reading, to find books that spark their interests, and to make reading a daily habit. Together, we can reach this goal and create a lasting impact on our community. Let’s make reading a lifelong habit and a source of inspiration. This challenge is not just about reading for a goal, but about instilling a love for reading that will last a lifetime.”

How the Challenge Works

Students and staff can log their reading sessions using Beanstack, accessible via ClassLink. You can also download the app via the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The Beanstack app enables participants to engage with their reading goals through:

• Logging reading sessions
• Completing activities
• Earning badges
• Reviewing books
• Tracking personal progress

“Superintendent Dr. LaTonya Goffney shares Aldine ISD’s belief in the importance of reading, and we’re excited in the Library Services Department to take the lead on her challenge to our entire learning community,” said Marco Zannier Virginillo, AISD program director for AISD Library Services. “Books can transport us and allow us to explore ourselves, others, our world, and worlds we can only imagine. The challenge is one of the ways we are making an #AldineImpact.”

This year’s challenge theme is Aldine Accelerate! The theme reflects the district’s collective effort to accelerate the love for reading and reach its ambitious goal of reading one million minutes as a district by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Virginillo added that Beanstack’s unique and empowering feature is its support for student choice, as students can select reading materials that match their interests and curiosity.

Schools Compete for a Chance to Win Prizes

District leaders, principals, and information literacy specialists will collaborate to offer a variety of incentives and prizes to encourage participation (e.g., pajama day, game day, bouncy castles, DJ dance party). A traveling trophy will be awarded to the leading campus at each level monthly, bringing excitement as the trophy moves to new leaders each month based on the latest reading data.

District leaders, principals, and information literacy specialists (ILSs / school librarians) are key players in this challenge. They will collaborate to develop a​​ range of exciting incentives and prizes for the schools with the highest participation, ensuring that everyone feels supported and encouraged in their reading journey. Their support and encouragement are crucial in making this challenge a success, and we’re grateful for their commitment to fostering a love for reading in our district.

Together, we can achieve this ambitious goal. “AISD’s goal for this year’s Superintendent’s Challenge is to read 1 million minutes as a district,” Virginillo explained. We can reach this goal, and your participation is crucial.

Dr. Lindsey Wise, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, highlighted how Beanstack’s competitive nature energizes students and adds fun to the process. “Beanstack adds a layer of friendly competition,” Wise shared. “Students can see what their friends are reading and check the leaderboards, encouraging them to read more.”

Follow Us on the District Website and Social Media

Community members can follow our progress on the district website, AldineISD.org, where a dedicated widget will track the district’s progress toward its goal with weekly updates. Additionally, campuses will highlight campus and student progress on X (formerly Twitter), sharing exciting updates and achievements. This will keep everyone informed and engaged in the challenge.