The Women are recognized as trailblazers in their professions and for making a difference in people’s lives.
HOUSTON – Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent of Aldine ISD, has been named a Top 30 Influential Woman of Houston honoree. The Top Women 30 celebrates the accomplishments and giving spirit of hundreds of diverse, influential, and powerful women in Houston and the surrounding areas. The women are from diverse backgrounds, share different beliefs, and have overcome obstacles.
Honorees were formally recognized at the annual The Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Awards gala on September 16 at The Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria. 2022 marked the ninth year of the awards founded by Keith J. Davis, Sr., also known as “MR. DMARS.”
Each successful woman recognized in their profession also possesses a servant spirit. Selflessness is something one cannot forget on the path to success, and this year’s honorees, including Dr. Goffney, are shining examples of that. And fighting through humble beginnings and overcoming challenges, these women have exceeded expectations, epitomizing women’s empowerment.
Candidates for the Top 30 Influential Women of Houston Awards are selected through either self-nomination or nominated by others. The women are from diverse backgrounds, share different beliefs, and have overcome obstacles. Still, all have a common goal — to excel and mentor the next generation of leaders.
About Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney:
Since 2018, Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney has served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Aldine Independent School District.
Under her leadership, Aldine ISD has developed new initiatives to offer parents and students more academic choices and opportunities to equip them for their future. Her commitment to equity and increasing student access to high-quality schools has shown positive results. The district made significant gains in the 2022 STAAR exams. The number of campuses rated A or B nearly doubled from 2019, the last time the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rated schools.
Throughout her career, Dr. Goffney has increased equity and student achievement, improved literacy, targeted teacher professional development, and collaboration across the community, including developing business and school partnerships, parent engagement, and increasing transparent and timely communication.
Dr. Goffney 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. The TASA Executive Committee elected Dr. Goffney to serve as an atlarge member on the Executive Committee as 2021-2022 vice president. In March 2022, Dr. Goffney was elected 2022- 2023 President-Elect of TASA and will assume her duties on June 1, 2022. In addition, she advocates for her community as an Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc., the Mayor’s Advisory Council, and the Aldine Education Foundation. StandardsWork added Dr. Goffney as a board member citing the superintendent’s focus on improving literacy like few others that the nonprofit has seen. Dr. Goffney was recently named President- Elect of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) and is the newly elected chair of the Texas Urban Council of Superintendents (TUCS). 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 put children’s interests first.