Aldine ISD Highlights Student Success and February Celebrations at Board Meeting

From honoring Aldine Impact Award recipients to celebrating Black History Month and Career and Technical Education Month, the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees’ Feb. 17 meeting highlighted students’ success, staff excellence, and key district action items.

Aldine Impact Award Winners

The Board of Trustees recognized recipients of the Aldine Impact Award, which honors employees and community members who go above and beyond the call of duty in their respective roles within the district.

Board Trustee Nataly Perez recognized Morgan Bacon, physical education teacher and athletic coach; Desmond Morgan, teacher and coach; Jason McGathon, physical education teacher and athletic coach; and Erik King, physical education teacher and coach, all from Grantham Academy.

Assistant Board Secretary Angela Williams recognized Dora Garza, principal of Stehlik Elementary School; Alicia Hadley, clerk at Eisenhower High School; Diaka Melendez, chief of school improvement and student support services; Ruth Hadley of the transportation department; and Andy Adams, district photographer.

Board President Dr. Kimberley Booker recognized students and staff from Carver High School, including students Johnny Kelly, Isaac Smith, Ka’Sean Francis and Sannia Bell; Roshunda Jones, theater director; and Jamar Hawkins, associate teacher of theater arts.

Spotlight on Teaching, Learning, and Leading

During the district’s Feb. 17 board meeting, Chief Transformation Officer Dr. Adrian Bustillos and Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Brooke Martin highlighted Aldine ISD’s CTE program in recognition of CTE Month.

The program serves more than 18,000 students through 45 programs of study, offering over 45 industry-based certifications and over 18 workforce certificates that prepare students for high-demand careers and postsecondary opportunities. The program’s history, accomplishments, and awards were also highlighted, celebrating student success and thanking educators and industry partners for their continued dedication and collaboration.

Dr. Javier Villarreal, chief of Schools, recognized Blanson CTE High School and Young Women’s Leadership Academy for earning a spot on the Educational Results Partnership (ERP) 2025 Honor Roll List. The honor roll recognizes the top Texas public schools and charter schools in Texas that outperform peers in closing achievement gaps among higher-poverty and historically disadvantaged student populations. This year, 1, 076 schools statewide were recognized based on student outcome data from the STAAR results for the 2023-25 academic years.

Recognition of Staff, Students, and Patrons

Latashia Abrams, executive director of the Family and Community Engagement Department (FACE), highlighted February events and accomplishments.

• The Aldine Education Foundation awarded four innovative teaching grants totaling $4,000.
• In celebration of Black History Month, Aldine ISD launched Aldine Talks: Black History Beyond the Classroom, a student-centered video series coordinated by the FACE Department in collaboration with the 2026 Black History Month Committee and the Office of Communications. The series replaces the district’s former oratory competition. Each week in February, high school students share reflections on Black history, identity, excellence and lived experiences on the district’s YouTube channel. 
• The district will host its Black Excellence Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Feb. 28, to honor excellence in the Aldine Community. The gala is part of a host of district events throughout February celebrating Black History Month. All proceeds from the evening will benefit a scholarship fund for Aldine ISD students. Proceeds will support scholarships for Aldine ISD students.
• Davis High School performing arts students were recognized for their powerful Black History Program.
• Families of current fifth- and eighth-grade students are invited to attend upcoming Parent Nights to support transitions to middle and high schools. Middle School Course Selection Parent Night will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24 and Ninth Grade Parent Night will be held Thursday, Feb. 26.
• The Carver High School Groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the original campus site.                   

Aldine ISD Police Chief Paul Cordova recognized several officers with the Life-Saving  Award for their response to a medical emergency that occurred on November 21, 2025.  Those honored were: Sergeant Rashad Angel, Sergeant Jeffrey McGowen, Officer Patricia Allen, Officer Devon Forbes, and Officer Stephen Martinez. 

Aldine ISD Counseling Teams Earn CREST Award

Josefina Trevino, director of guidance, counseling, and support services, recognized multiple campuses for earning the Counselors Reinforcing Excellent for Students in Texas Awards (CREST) by the Texas Counseling Association (TCA)

First-year winners were Kim Tunson and Wanda Cook at Francis Elementary. Two-time winners were Kesha Franks and Shalondra Moore at Goodman Elementary. First-time middle school recipients were Brock Dilling, Deborah Prater, and Ashley Stancil at Shotwell Middle School, the first middle school campus in the district to earn the honor.

The CREST award recognizes exemplary, comprehensive school counseling programs that demonstrate a strong commitment to student achievement and well-being across academic, career, and personal-social domains.

Board Action Items Approved

The Board of Trustees approved the following action items:

• Minutes of previous meetings.
• Closure of Houston Academy and Teague Middle School, and related school consolidation to school consolidations and rezoning actions for the 2026-27 school year
• Certification of midyear, Spring, and summer graduates of 2025
• Clinical experience affiliation agreement with James Madison University and Aldine ISD for the 2025-26 school year
• Open Education Resource instructional materials for the Bluebonnet Learning Literacy K-8 transition plan
• Interlocal agreement between Texas Tech University on behalf of University-School Partnerships for the Renewal of Educator Preparation (US PREP), and Aldine ISD for the 2025-26 school year
• Amendment to TEA for Aldine ISD’s District of Innovation Plan
• Resolution for staff pay during district closure on Jan. 26, 2026
• Application delay of HB 2 teacher certification requirements
• Single contracts and purchases of $100,000 and greater
• Final single audit report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025
• Authorizing the issuance of Aldine ISD unlimited tax school building bonds, and AISD unlimited tax refunding bond, each of which may be issued in one or more series in accordance with specified parameters; leaving and ad valorem tax and providing for the security and payment thereof; and enacting other provisions relating thereto
• Board resolutions of the state and local cybersecurity grant program mitigation projects, FY 2027
• Board resolution for the criminal justice grant program, FY 2027
• Resolution of the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees regarding Senate Bill 11 on daily prayer time

Prior to the start of the Feb. 17 meeting, Khalil Dawson and Daja Morgan of Carver High School led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Flag. The Aldine High School JROTC presented the colors, and Carver High School Chorale performed.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24. at 7 p.m. in the boardroom at the Donaldson Administration Building.

Click here to see more moments from the board meeting.