Aldine ISD Celebrates Seal of Biliteracy

Disponible en: Español

District honors student achievement in bilingualism, culture, and identity at the inaugural event.

Held May 12 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center, Aldine ISD’s inaugural Seal of Biliteracy Trajectory Celebration honored the voices and dreams of students pursuing bilingualism and biculturalism.

“We are celebrating in a big way,” said Karina Chapa, executive director of the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE). “These students are not only bilingual — they are also biliterate and bicultural. They are a bridge between cultures, ready to transform our society.”

The auditorium fell silent as keynote speaker Montserrat Garibay stepped up, her voice both steady and tender. A former director of the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education, she shared a story that began with fear and courage: arriving in the United States as an undocumented child who didn’t speak English.

Montserrat Garibay, former director of the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education

“My mother would always remind us that education is something no one can take away from you,” Garibay recalled, her voice catching. “She wanted us to dream big and to work hard. I remember my first ESL class, a room full of students from around the world. I felt safe when my teacher smiled and welcomed me by name. That moment taught me that our names, accents, and cultures — they matter.”

Garibay became a bilingual prekindergarten teacher, a U.S. citizen, and a national advocate for emergent bilinguals. Her message was clear: “Being bilingual is like having a superpower. It opens doors, builds bridges, and allows you to dream beyond borders.”

Those dreams are taking root in Aldine ISD. The district, home to approximately 56,500 students, nearly 75% of whom are Hispanic, reflects a rich tapestry of Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. For these students, the path to bilingualism is not just academic but deeply personal.

Eva Carrillo-Iñiguez, Aldine ISD’s director of multilingual special programs, explained how the district’s Two-Way Dual Language (TWDL) Program fosters excellence and belonging. As a choice program, the TWDL model invites participation from both native English and Spanish speakers. Aldine ISD also offers a one-way dual language model designed specifically for emergent bilingual students — who now represent 48% of the district’s population. This model replaced the district’s former transitional bilingual program and reflects a broader commitment to long-term bilingualism.

“When children see their language and culture reflected in the classroom, they feel valued. That sense of pride fuels academic success. Our bilingual students are among the highest achievers in the district.”

Launched in 2019, the TWDL Program begins at the district’s designated EC/Pre-K/Kindergarten campuses and continues through elementary and middle school, with a new grade level added each year as part of its expansion toward a full Pre-K–12 model. It serves both native English and Spanish speakers who learn in both languages daily — building academic strength, cultural understanding, and bilingual confidence.

Aldine ISD’s Multilingual Services Department champions this work, which supports emergent bilingual students through innovative programming, instructional resources, and family engagement. The department ensures that language is celebrated as an asset, not a barrier, and promotes equity for all learners regardless of their background or country of origin.

At the heart of the celebration were the recognitions themselves. The first cohort of fifth-grade students in the dual language program received their pins as they have reached the second milestone in the Seal of Biliteracy trajectories. The trajectory model, developed by TABE, recognizes key benchmarks in a student’s biliteracy journey — from prekindergarten through high school — and encourages a long-term commitment to language development. These fifth graders entered the program as kindergartners in its launch year, 2019. To complete the full trajectory and earn the Seal of Biliteracy at graduation, they will continue in the program through middle and high school, transitioning to La Promesa for the upper grades.

More than 400 graduating seniors received multicolor cords — red for Spanish and blue for English — reflecting the instructional design used across classrooms and symbolizing years of effort, identity, and cultural affirmation. While these students did not participate in Aldine’s TWDL Program from the start, they earned the Seal of Biliteracy by meeting one or more state-approved pathways — such as demonstrating proficiency in a language other than English through standardized assessments, coursework, or TELPAS scores.

Members of Aldine ISD’s Multilingual Services Department are recognized during the Seal of Biliteracy Trajectory Celebration on May 12.

These recognitions are part of the Seal of Biliteracy Trajectories, a statewide initiative developed by TABE to celebrate students’ progress toward biliteracy from prekindergarten through higher education. Aldine ISD’s celebration marked a historic milestone, becoming the first districtwide ceremony of its kind.

According to Carrillo-Iñiguez, Aldine ISD plans to make the celebration an annual tradition. In the last four years, the number of students earning the Seal of Biliteracy has tripled, and next year, more than 1,000 students will be enrolled in the Two-Way Dual Language Program across kindergarten through sixth grade. The program is offered at EC/Pre-K/Kindergarten campuses — de Santiago, García-Leza, Hinojosa, Magrill, and Vines — and continues at elementary schools Black, Dunn, Escamilla, Ermel, and Thompson, as well as middle schools Mead, García, and Jones, which will offer sixth grade starting in 2025–2026. The TWDL Program is designed to grow into a full K–12 pathway, allowing students to continue developing bilingualism and biliteracy throughout their entire academic journey.

Fifth-grade students Camden Henderson and Emma Rivas, who served as bilingual hosts for the ceremony, later shared why their bilingual journey matters

“I feel like I can connect with more people now,” said Camden, a native English speaker. Emma, whose parents are from Honduras and El Salvador, added: “Being bilingual means I can talk to more people and help them feel understood.”

Karina Chapa, executive director of TABE, gives closing remarks at the celebration.

Closing the event, Chapa delivered a heartfelt message that resonated with everyone in the room. She described bilingualism as a gift with profound personal, social, and economic power. “A bilingual brain is a more efficient brain,” she said. “It helps delay cognitive decline, strengthens communication skills, and enhances critical thinking. Socially, it turns students into bridges — voices of empathy and connection.”

She reminded the audience that students who speak English and Spanish can communicate with up to 80% of the world.

“These skills open doors not just in Houston or Texas, but around the world. And here in Aldine, you are recognizing and celebrating that journey.”

This wasn’t just a recognition event. It was a celebration of language as legacy and education as empowerment. It was a reminder that when people honor who they are and where they come from, they become stronger, more compassionate, and more prepared to lead.