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Instruction

Sugar Grove Academy: Leveling Up Instruction Through the NES Model

At Sugar Grove Academy, excellence is not optional—it is expected. As an NES campus, we are positioned at the cutting edge of Houston ISD’s bold transformation through the New Education System (NES). Guided by our school-wide theme, "Level Up," our mission is to elevate instruction, systems, and student outcomes through intentionality, structure, and an unwavering commitment to equity and excellence.

What is NES? A Whole-Scale Reform for Student Achievement

The New Education System is HISD’s strategy for Whole-Scale System Reform (WSSR)—a district-wide initiative designed to disrupt the status quo and ensure that every student receives high-quality, standards-based, and engaging instruction. NES does not offer piecemeal solutions; instead, it delivers a comprehensive, aligned instructional model that prioritizes rigor, real-time student support, and equitable access to learning opportunities.

NES campuses, including Sugar Grove Academy, are proof points that system-wide transformation is possible through:

  • Focused instructional coaching
  • Rigorous teacher and principal evaluation
  • Differentiated compensation
  • Innovative electives that extend student experiences (e.g., martial arts, gardening, spin, and photography)
  • Destination 2035-aligned competencies that promote critical thinking and future-ready skills

The NES Instructional Model: Structure, Precision, and Mastery

At the heart of NES is the belief that teachers must be free to teach—so all non-instructional tasks are removed from their plate. This empowers educators to focus on Tier 1 instruction, which is broken into three distinct parts across a 90-minute class:

1. 45-Minute Direct Instruction

The first part of the lesson is deliberately structured to teach grade-level content to all students:

  • Aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
  • Begins with a 5-minute Do Now and is guided by a visible digital timer
  • Incorporates visuals, videos, annotations, and scaffolds
  • Embeds multiple engagement strategies, including Think-Pair-Share, Choral Response, Table Talk, and Whiteboards
  • Students are actively reading, writing, thinking, and discussing 95% of the time

2. 10-Minute Demonstration of Learning (DOL)

  • Administered at the 40–45 minute mark
  • Collected and graded immediately for accuracy
  • Informs real-time grouping and reteaching decisions

3. 35-Minute LSAE Teach Time

Based on the DOL, students are grouped into LSAE levels:

  • “L” and “S1” learners remain in the classroom for targeted reteach
  • “S2” and “A” students transition to the Team Center for enrichment, application, or independent extension

This responsive model ensures that instruction is both rigorous and differentiated, promoting equitable access to mastery for all learners.

Instructional Non-Negotiables for NES Classrooms

To maintain high standards, all NES classrooms must:

  • Teach on-grade-level, standards-based content
  • Implement daily engagement strategies
  • Incorporate timed Do Nows and DOL checkpoints
  • Provide scaffolded supports and reteach time using LSAE data
  • Prioritize teacher punctuality, lesson pacing, and instructional alignment

At Sugar Grove Academy, we hold ourselves accountable to these expectations. Our commitment to these instructional non-negotiables is one of the many ways we continue to “level up” our teaching and learning environment.

Student Engagement: The Engine of NES Success

NES prioritizes high-quality instruction that centers student voice and thinking. Our campus integrates a repertoire of Student Engagement Strategies designed to stimulate curiosity, discourse, and ownership of learning, including:

  • Whip Around / Modified Whip Around
  • Quick Writes and Response Cards
  • Gallery Walks
  • Oral Discussions and Table Talk

These practices are not optional—they are essential. They ensure that all students remain active participants in their learning and that instruction is dynamic, inclusive, and culturally responsive.

Emergent Bilingual (EB) Support in the NES Framework

At Sugar Grove Academy, we embrace linguistic diversity as an asset. As part of NES, we support Emergent Bilinguals through:

  • Compliance with English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS)
  • Use of sentence stems, visuals, cognates, and vocabulary labeling
  • EB Talks for individual goal-setting and reflection
  • Data monitoring through TELPAS in listening, speaking, reading, and writing

The goal is for every EB student to gain one proficiency level each year, supported through differentiated LSAE instruction, sheltered practices, and culturally affirming pedagogy.

“Leveling Up” at Sugar Grove Academy

Principal Noe Ortega emphasized in this year’s welcome letter:

“You are now a member of a high-performance culture where excellence is not optional—it is expected.”

That mindset anchors our instructional approach at Sugar Grove Academy. Through the NES framework, we are transforming every classroom into a space where:

  • Instruction is intentional
  • Data drives decisions
  • Student discourse is central
  • Equity is non-negotiable

This is more than reform—it’s a movement. Leveling Up means that every stakeholder—teachers, leaders, students, and families—is rising to meet the moment with purpose and pride.

 Final Thought

NES is not just a system—it’s a standard. At Sugar Grove Academy, we are proud to be part of this historic transformation and committed to modeling what is possible in public education. By adhering to the NES model with fidelity, we are ensuring that every child, in every classroom, levels up—academically, socially, and emotionally.