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Fine Arts Department

Performing and Visual Arts

Mission

The Aldine ISD Fine Arts Department, in partnership with other academic disciplines, seeks to develop critical thinkers, problem solvers and responsible, productive citizens by providing engaging and motivating classroom instruction including opportunities for meaningful artistic experiences in dance, music, theater, and visual arts.

Vision

Through instruction in the fine arts, we will empower our students by:

  • fostering critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and leadership in the development of the whole student
  • instilling essential characteristics of integrity, dependability, responsibility and loyalty necessary for success as a productive member of society
  • cultivating educated, life-long consumers and patrons of the arts.

The Aldine ISD Fine Arts Department is the perfect conduit to help the district in its mission as the attributes of critical thinking, problem solving and being productive are most common to students in our programs.

Serving over 52,000 students in the visual arts, dance, band, choir, mariachi, strings, theatre, speech and debate and academic UIL competitions, Aldine ISD is committed to providing quality educational experiences in the arts. Our 200+ dedicated and talented teachers and staff are an integral part of delivering this instruction.

Our students and teachers are recognized at the state and national levels, performing at venues from Carnegie Hall to Disneyland.

Performing Arts Event Calendar

Contact us for more information.

Phone: 281.985.6105
Fax: 281.985.6181

Refugio Rodriguez
Director of Performing Arts
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 281.590.7830

Refugio Rodriguez is a proud product of Aldine ISD . Mr. Rodriguez attended Goodman, Anderson, Drew, Shotwell and graduated from Aldine HS. Mr. Rodriguez began his teaching career in Conroe ISD, then returned to Aldine, serving as the band director, then assistant principal at Hambrick MS. Mr. Rodriguez is a proud husband to Erika Rodriguez and father to Isabel, Sofia, and Noah.

Kaileigh Newman
Director of Visual Arts
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 281.985.6421

Kaileigh Newman is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of visual arts education. With 13 years of dedicated service in education, Kaileigh has worn many hats – from inspiring students as an art educator to guiding educational policies as an assistant principal and director in Aldine Independent School District (ISD).

Kaileigh’s journey in education has been marked with a commitment to amplifying the voices of students and educators alike, believing in the profound impact of storytelling within the realm of arts education. At the heart of Kaileigh’s philosophy lies a dedication to providing students with a myriad of choices and opportunities in the arts. Through meaningful collaboration with instructional partners, she strives to create environments where every student can flourish creatively. Driven by her unwavering belief in the potential of art education, Kaileigh supports art educators across all grade levels, from Pre-K to 12th grade. She understands that the success of student artists hinges upon the support and guidance of passionate educators. Thus, she aims to empower art educators by creating systems that facilitate leadership opportunities, fostering a community where educators can lead, learn, and collaborate with one another.

With a keen eye toward equity, she works tirelessly to ensure that all students have equitable access to high-quality visual arts education, regardless of their background or circumstances. In the ever-evolving landscape of education, Kaileigh Newman stands, championing the arts and advocating for the holistic development of every student in Aldine ISD.

Dr. Christopher Cuellar
Program Director of Performing Arts
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 832.418.8694

Christopher Cuellar serves as Aldine Independent School District’s Program Director of Performing Arts. He brings over 23 years of public education experience having served as an elementary music school teacher, middle school choir Director, and a high school choir Director in Katy, Fort Bend and Lamar Consolidated ISD‘s. Over these last eight years, Chris has served George Ranch High School in Lamar CISD as Assistant Principal.

Chris has a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University, a Master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston-Victoria and a Doctorate in Education Administration from the University of Houston.

Dr. Cuellar is passionate about performing arts leadership. He desires to build meaningful relationships with teams of people, identify talent, and strives to be an active listener and advocate of all performing arts teachers. He is thrilled to collaborate and work with the staff of Aldine ISD.

Stacey Smith
Program Director of Performing Arts
Email: [email protected]

Stacey Smith brings over 20 years of experience as a Music Educator to the Fine Arts Department. She began as a band director in the Rio Grande Valley. Her teaching career led her to Galena Park ISD, In Aldine ISD, Stacey has served as a grant writer and resource developer for districtwide grants.

She has always had a passion for Fine Arts. Her love for music has returned her to work with the Fine Arts Department in Aldine ISD. “Music is an art form that crosses all language barriers, unites people in a common experience, and strikes a chord in the heart that heals the spirit”.

Stacey believes that music increases student performance by stimulating both sides of the brain while activating muscle memory, and self-discipline which increases the academic growth of all students who participate in music. Standardized tests have demonstrated that students in Fine Arts far exceed their peers in academic performance.

Stacey volunteers as a Board member of the Aldine Education Foundation that supports innovation in the classroom, student academic growth, and scholarships for Aldine ISD students who desire to pursue higher education beyond Aldine ISD. She also serves as a member of the Aldine Noon Optimist Club which supports student leadership, literacy, and scholarships.

Esnevit D. Molina
Administrative Assistant – Performing Arts Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 281.985.3796

Cynthia H. Cabrera
Administrative Assistant – Performing Arts Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 281.985.3796

Gema Gatica
Administrative Assistant – Visual Arts Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 281.985.7873