Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney Joins Women Leading Ed Advisory Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 6, 2025
Aldine ISD Superintendent Brings Powerful Record & Commitment to Supporting Women in Education Leadership
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Women Leading Ed, the nation’s largest bipartisan nonprofit network dedicated to advancing women in education leadership, is proud to announce the addition of Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent of Aldine Independent School District (TX), to its prestigious Advisory Board. Composed of top state and district leaders, the Advisory Board guides Women Leading Ed in its mission to cultivate bold, visionary leaders who are ready to tackle the toughest challenges states and districts face and make a lasting impact.
“This is a full-circle moment,” said Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, founder and CEO of Women Leading Ed. “I recruited Dr. Goffney to be a member of a previous organization years ago and I’ve watched her lead boldly and with impact every year since. She’s been in my corner and a champion of Women Leading Ed since day one, and now she’s helping shape what’s next for this powerful network. She’s a leader who sets the standard and constantly elevates it. I am incredibly proud and grateful to welcome her to the Advisory Board.”
“Women Leading Ed has always stood for bold leadership that delivers real results for students and schools,” said Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “It’s an honor to serve this network of women who don’t just talk about change, they lead it. I’m deeply committed to supporting the highly capable, skilled women leading our schools and systems across the country. These are the leaders our students and communities need, and I’m proud to stand alongside my fellow Advisory Board Members to help ensure that they are recognized and elevated across their leadership journeys.”
Dr. Goffney has led the 60,000-student Aldine Independent School District in Houston, TX since 2019. She began her career as a teacher in the Coldspring-Oakhurst Consolidated Independent School District and became superintendent of the district in 2008. Prior to her current position, she was Superintendent of Lufkin Independent School District from 2013 to 2018 and was named Texas Superintendent of the Year in 2018.
“Dr. Goffney has a demonstrated record of impact across multiple districts, and is a prime example of how leaders can not just endure in top jobs, but thrive in them, ” said Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Women Leading Ed Fiduciary Board Chair and Advisory Board Member. “She’s not only delivered for the systems she has served, she’s also actively supported the next generation of women leaders. She leads with vision, integrity, and a deep belief in the potential of the woman called to lead our state and district education systems. She is a powerful addition to the WLE Advisory Board.”
Dr. Goffney joins the Advisory Board as Women Leading Ed continues its rapid growth, with more than 500 members across all 50 states serving in systems that support almost half of the nation’s public school students. Fellow Advisory Board members include:
Kirsten Baesler – Superintendent, North Dakota Department of Public Education
Dr. Susana Córdova – Commissioner, Colorado Department of Education
Dr. Margaret Crespo – Superintendent-in-Residence, ILO Group and former superintendent
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis – Superintendent, Cherokee County School District, GA
Dr. Susan Enfield – Executive Director, University of Washington Center for Educational Leadership and former superintendent
Angélica Infante-Green – Commissioner, Rhode Island Department of Education
Emily Hartnett, Executive Director, Women Leading Ed
Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell – Superintendent Emeritus, Oakland Unified School District, CA
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer – CEO and Founder, Women Leading Ed
Dr. LaTanya McDade – Superintendent, Prince William County Public Schools, VA
Dr. Denise Watts – Superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, GA
Dr. Goffney’s appointment strengthens Women Leading Ed’s ongoing efforts to grow, support, and connect the women who are leading some of the most complex and high-impact systems in the country. Her experience and vision reflect why the Women Leading Ed network exists: to identify, develop, and sustain highly capable women leaders across the country.
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More about Dr. Julia Rafal Baer, CEO and founder, Women Leading Ed
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer, is a distinguished leader in education with a formidable two-decade career marked by creating and leading initiatives that have profoundly impacted nearly every student nationwide. Her leadership in founding and implementing transformative programs such as Women Leading Ed, the Forum for Educational Leadership, Future Chiefs, and Women in Leadership has shaped the landscape of education leadership across the United States. Dr. Rafal-Baer serves on numerous boards, including her two-time appointment to the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB) by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Her work has been spotlighted by leading media outlets, and she is frequently invited to speak at national forums, legislative bodies, and educational conferences across the country.
More about Women Leading Ed
Women Leading Ed (WLE) is the largest national nonprofit network of women in education leadership. WLE is committed to supporting and advancing women in education leadership through research, advocacy, and engagement with women at every stage of their leadership journeys. Women Leading Ed is taking on the big challenges facing the field and building a dynamic network within which leaders collaborate. Women Leading Ed is committed to identifying, developing and sustaining the next generation of leadership and shaping the public dialogue about education leadership more broadly using research and storytelling.
WLE is guided by a prestigious advisory board that includes:
Kirsten Baesler – Superintendent, North Dakota Department of Public Education
Dr. Susana Córdova – Commissioner, Colorado Department of Education
Dr. Margaret Crespo – Superintendent-in-Residence, ILO Group
Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis – Superintendent, Cherokee County School District, GA
Dr. Susan Enfield – Superintendent-in-Residence, ILO Group
Angélica Infante-Green – Commissioner, Rhode Island Department of Education
Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell – Superintendent, Oakland Unified School District, CA
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer – CEO and Founder, Women Leading Ed
Dr. LaTanya McDade – Superintendent, Prince William County Public Schools, VA
Dr. Denise Watts – Superintendent, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, GA
More about GSV
GSV is a global platform fueling scaled innovation in “PreK to Gray” education and workforce skills to ensure that ALL people have equal access to the future. The platform includes the ASU+GSV Summit (founded 2010) and The AI Show @ ASU+GSV (founded 2024). GSV Ventures (founded 2016), the platform's investment arm, is a multi-stage venture capital firm focused on the $7+ trillion global education and workforce skills sector.
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