Aldine ISD - txurbancouncil

Quick Facts

70,000 Students

4,503 Teachers

85 Schools

Superintendent
Dr. LaTonya Goffney

The Aldine Independent School District (AISD) has 67,000 students (PreK-12) and 9,500 employees. As of fall 2020, AISD has 82 campuses encompassing 111 square miles. Families have educational choices in AISD, including early childhood, IB® World schools, magnet schools, early college, and career and technical education campuses.

AISD is comprised of nearly 90% economically disadvantaged students, 35% English learners, 73% are Hispanic and 22% are African American. Families and students speak more than 10 languages.

Since taking the helm in July 2018, AISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney has developed several new initiatives to offer parents and students more educational options and increase student outcomes. In the fall of 2018, AISD rolled out a 3-year-old prekindergarten pilot. In addition, AISD launched a two-way dual language immersion program at five campuses in 2019. It will grow a grade level each year until becoming a full K-12 continuum. AISD is also proud of launching the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) Model at two elementary campuses in order to increase student outcomes through realigning resources and support to ensure: effective principals and teachers; instructional excellence, extended school day, social-emotional supports, and parent and community partnerships. Finally, AISD opened the Avalos P-TECH School and partnered with EMERGE Fellowship and the Harris County Promise Scholar program to increase college readiness and access to top colleges and universities.

In addition to two high schools making U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings in 2020, AISD also made the College Board’s AP® Honor Roll for the first time.

Beginning in fall 2020, the District will offer students expanded AP options and access to additional dual credit courses. Additionally, AISD is committed to continuing to build its advanced academics pipeline by identifying more students at younger grade levels to nurture. AISD is also redesigning its alternative high school to provide additional wrap-around services to further support students’ ability to graduate in a timely manner.

The District continues to look for ways to expand access and improve student performance. This includes developing magnet schools in every area of AISD, strengthening the IB® program and launching a new-comer academy to accelerate language development and increase student achievement. Aldine is exploring opportunities to create a Young Women’s Leadership Academy and a Male Leadership Academy. These academies, which will open within the next two years, are aimed at providing students with a dynamic and unparalleled educational experience that leads to expanded choices and opportunities upon graduation. Dr. Goffney and District leaders are currently working on the Black Student Outcomes Project to develop strategies and interventions to close gaps and provide social-emotional skills and other supports to increase student outcomes and college preparedness.

July 2019 marked the launch of the District’s new five-year strategic plan, A New Way Forward. The dynamic plan ensures that AISD will continue to dramatically increase access to highly-rated schools, choices and opportunities that prepare all students for their future. AISD’s top priorities are to transform how educators serve students and show that improvement is possible for any school, regardless of its location or who it serves.

The District’s five strategic priorities include Student Achievement, School Culture, Mission-Driven Leadership, Organizational Efficiency, and Community Engagement and Outreach. The strategic plan has, and will continue to, drive all new partnerships, such as with Good Reason Houston and Houston Endowment, and initiatives launched since fall 2019. Within the first year of its inception, Dr. Goffney began to address teacher training to strategically target identified needs. She also placed an emphasis on leadership development in order to begin building capacity at all levels within the organization. Along with her leadership team, she has created the Aspiring Principal, Aspiring Assistant Principal, First-Year Principals and First-Year Assistant Principal academies to develop a pipeline of current and future AISD leaders.

In 2019, The Holdsworth Center selected AISD as one of six Texas school districts to participate in the center’s second cohort of a five-year leadership program. As part of the partnership, Holdsworth is working with AISD to train administrative leaders and codify systems for identifying and selecting future high-level district leaders.

Other significant investments include establishing the Office of Transformation, developing a Family and Community Engagement Department, and creating the Social-Emotional Learning Office. In addition, AISD will implement a newly-developed literacy program starting in fall 2020. These bold changes will target instruction to improve students’ reading skills to ensure third-grade students read on or above grade level. Aldine is proud to be the first school district in Texas to move to this cutting edge literacy model.

Equity for all students continues to drive Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney and her leadership team. They are committed to increasing access to high-quality schools, demonstrating what is possible and ensuring students have choices and opportunities today and in the future.

Superintendent

Dr. LaTonya Goffney

“The Texas Urban Council of Superintendents is a respected network of education leaders who understand our students’ potential. Each member puts children’s interests first. The Council’s vision aligns with my beliefs that we must turn around schools and transform education for all students. We must create school choice systems that provide quality, equitable access, and equitable funding. In Aldine, that means creating more choices and opportunities for our students. I will continue to advocate for all students, and utilize the information and resources that will benefit students in Aldine as we continue to fulfill our strategic plan, A New Way Forward.”

In July 2018, Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney became the 10th superintendent of one top 10 largest school districts, Aldine ISD, overseeing 82 schools, 67,000 students, and 9,500 staff members.

Dr. Goffney previously served as superintendent of Lufkin ISD, from March 2013 until July 2018. Before her five years at LISD, she led Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District from April 2008 to June 2013. Before taking a superintendency seat, Dr. Goffney worked as a teacher and transitioned to campus leadership, serving as an assistant principal and principal. She has more than 20 years of experience in education.

During her career, Dr. Goffney has experienced several firsts. She was the first African American principal at a middle school in the Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District. Dr. Goffney became the first African American to become a superintendent in the same district. She became the first African American to be named superintendent in the Lufkin Independent School District and the first African American Aldine Independent School District. This appointment also made her the first external candidate to take the helm of Aldine ISD.

Goffney holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Houston State University. In 2019, Sam Houston State University presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Under her leadership, Goffney has increased the number of choices and opportunities for Aldine ISD students by offering new programs and school choice options. Through outreach, she has developed new partnerships that will increase college preparedness and access to top colleges and universities. Her commitment to equity and high-quality schools led to bold changes such as converting two elementary schools to the Accelerated Campus Excellence model. She led a team that saw results within her first year as superintendent — AISD moved from a ‘C-rated’ school district to a ‘B’ based on Texas’ 2018-2019 academic accountability ratings. AISD increased the number of ‘A’ and ‘B’ schools and the number of distinction designations and made gains in closing gaps. In addition to two high schools making U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings in 2020, AISD also made the College Board’s AP® Honor Roll for the first time. Goffney is currently overseeing the increase and strengthening of the Districts advances academics program to increase college courses for dual credit and dual enrollment, and identify more students identified to nurture their advanced academic potential.

She was named Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards in 2017. That same year, the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) selected her as the Texas nominee for the 2018 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year award. In 2019, Sam Houston State University presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award. In fall 2019, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, named Dr. Goffney, a finalist for the 2020 Superintendent Award. Additionally, Young Audiences Arts Education has selected Dr. Goffney as the 2020 Arts Education Honoree.

Dr. Goffney believes in maximizing opportunities, developing leaders, and providing opportunities for all students. As a result, she is active in many organizations including, the Texas School Alliance, the University Interscholastic League Legislative Committee, the Texas Association of Black School Educators, the Texas Council of Women School Executives, TASA Future-Ready Superintendents, and Chiefs for Change. She advocates for her community as a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., the Mayor’s Advisory Council, and the Aldine Education Foundation.

Currently, Dr. Goffney forms part of a group working with The Greater Houston Partnership to develop a Reopen Houston Safely as the city deals with the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, Dr. Goffney forms part of the working group that focuses on education.

As the District made plans during the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020-2021 school district, Goffney worked with teachers and leaders in Aldine. The group developed plans and protocols, reimagining how the District will prepare for students’ return to school and continue learning virtually or on campus. As the pandemic numbers have risen in the Houston area, media such as MSNBC, CNN, and Univisión have invited Dr. Goffney as a guest speaker to discuss the impact of the pandemic in public schools and AISD’s Return to Learn plan for 2020-21.

The selective bipartisan organization Chiefs of Change added five new members from across the nation, including Dr. Goffney, who brought the membership list to 41. The respected network of education leaders who put children’s interests first. As a member of the organization, Goffney will have access information, resources, and a network of school leaders from across the nation to brainstorm, partner, and dream of new ways to ensure all 67,000 students in Aldine ISD have access to quality, equitable access, and equitable funding to provide high-quality schools along with new, innovative academic programs.