ALDINE – The Optimist Club held a special luncheon last week, to recognize partners who have help them with community projects over the last year, and to introduce the new Aldine ISD superintendent, Dr. LaTonya Goffney.
Club president Steve Mead recounted for the attendees the many projects that the club has accomplished, almost all of them benefitting students of Aldine ISD.
Mead said the club had funded two named scholarships with the Education Foundation, at $15,000 each fund. Also, last year the club awarded every high school in the district a scholarship for a student, and this year plans to increase it to 2 students per high school.
Other projects included awarding 80 bicycles to students, and holding a raffle at the FFA show to raise money for more scholarships.
The club also sponsors the CHICKEN club, an awareness program promoting avoidance of drug use.
Mead mentioned that the main fund raiser for the club is the annual Golf Tournament, coming up in October.
Mead then presented partners with appreciation certificates, including Doris Davis of Kidd Pipeline, Newt Newman, the American Legion, and the Northeast News, represented by Gilbert Hoffman, publisher. He also thanked Howard Kelly, owner of local MacDonald’s stores, for donating 400 gift certificates of $5, to be used by the Aldine police department to recognize good drivers.
Dr. Goffney then presented a brief history of her career in education, and life, and her pleasure in being head of the Aldine district.
She told of a difficult childhood, raised by a grandmother, and how education and teachers that cared had given her inspiration to fulfill her dreams.
She noted that Aldine ISD had a legacy of the best, and she was “living the dream” to be here and part of the district.
In an inspiring message, she said, “Our job is to pull out the potential of our children, and I consider it my ministry.”