La Joya, TX - At La Joya ISD, instructional excellence begins long before students gather on a carpet, or open a book. It starts with intentional planning, deep content understanding, and a clear vision for student success. Through the district’s Instructional Framework and Lesson Structure, educators are equipped with the tools needed to deliver high-quality, engaging instruction every day.
Among the dedicated educators bringing the Instructional Framework to life is Isabel Gomez - a Pre-K teacher at Evangelina Garza Elementary School. By utilizing the district’s Lesson Structure, Gomez is equipped with the tools needed to deliver high-quality, engaging lessons every day.
At the core of Isabel’s lessons is the planning and internalizing component - a critical part of the Instructional Framework that requires Gomez to thoughtfully prepare before instruction ever begins. It’s during this phase that Gomez uses the Instructional Planning Calendar (IPC) to fully internalize the lesson, ensuring clarity around learning objectives and how her students will demonstrate understanding.
During foundational literacy lessons, like read-alouds, Gomez puts into practice the preparation and planning she conducted.
“I take time to internalize the lesson using the IPC guide so I am clear on the objective and how students will show their understanding,” explained Gomez. “I review the text in advance and identify key events students must recall and determine how I will prompt students to retell the story.”
This level of preparation ensures active student engagement throughout the lesson - a reflection of La Joya ISD’s commitment to high-quality instruction and aligns with Priority 2 of Achieving Excellence Together: 2030, which focuses on empowering graduates. By strengthening foundational literacy skills, La Joya ISD ensures students have the skills and confidence needed for long-term academic success.
La Joya ISD proudly recognizes Isabel Gomez for exemplifying instructional excellence and for bringing the Instructional Framework and Lesson Structure to life - transforming preparation into meaningful, student-centered learning experiences every day.