Sage
Trial Success Framework
Setting Clear Expectations for a Successful Pilot
Northeast Independent School District | January 2026
Today's Agenda
What we'll cover in the next 30 minutes
- Success Criteria — How we'll measure if Sage is the right fit
- Trial Structure — What happens during the pilot period
- Mutual Commitment — What we each bring to make this successful
- Decision Process — What happens when the trial concludes
- Next Steps — Getting started
What Makes This Trial Successful?
Let's align on what a "yes" looks like
Quality
What would Sage-generated curriculum need to deliver that Gemini isn't?
What does "teacher-ready" mean to you? (Better TEKS alignment? More complete lesson materials? Easier editing workflow?)
Speed
Is speed a decision-making criterion? If so, how would it be defined?
Teacher Experience
What would Virena and Chassity need to say about Sage for you to feel confident scaling to all 12 curriculum leads?
Trial Structure
Four working sessions over two weeks
Session 1: Kickoff Working Session (2 hours)
Week 1 Monday - Onboard Virena & Chassity, build first unit together, ensure they're confident with the platform
Session 2: Working Session (1 hour)
Week 1 Wednesday - Review progress, troubleshoot any issues, optimize workflow, answer questions
Session 3: Working Session (1 hour)
Week 2 Monday - Review progress, troubleshoot any issues, optimize workflow, answer questions
Session 4: Debrief Session (1 hour)
Week 2 Thursday - Review completed units, compare Sage vs. Gemini, discuss full implementation
Trial Deliverables
What Virena and Chassity will create
8 Complete Units
4 Complete Units from Virena + 4 Complete Units from Chassity
Enough real work to evaluate quality, speed, and ease of use
- Standards-aligned unit overview with learning targets
- Complete lesson materials (slides, activities, projects)
- Formative and summative assessments with rubrics
- Editable in Word/PowerPoint or within Sage platform
What We'll Deliver
Full Support
- Hands-on training during kickoff
- Responsive troubleshooting throughout
- Workflow optimization coaching
Real Value
- 8 complete units you keep
- No cost for trial (normally $2,500)
- Full platform access
What We Need From You
Making this trial a success is a two-way street
- Attend all 4 working sessions
- Complete 4 units each during the trial period
- Honest feedback on quality, speed, and usability vs. Gemini
- Test your actual workflow for the full 40-course build
Decision Process
What happens when the trial is complete
Decision Authority
Who needs to be involved in the final decision to move forward? Procurement, Legal, Supervisors, etc.
Decision Timeline
If the trial is successful, how long does a procurement process take?
Are there any fiscal year or budget cycle constraints we should know about?
Other Factors
What concerns or objections do you anticipate needing to address during procurement?
If Sage meets your criteria, is there anything else that could prevent moving forward?
If You Move Forward: Purchase Process
What happens after a successful trial
| Step |
Timeline |
What's Required |
| 1. Finalize Quote |
During trial period |
Confirm exact course count, user count, Programs of Study |
| 2. Procurement |
1-2 weeks |
Contract execution or purchase order issued |
| 3. Project Kickoff |
Immediately after contract |
Onboard all 12 curriculum leads, begin course builds |
| 4. Curriculum Build |
Kickoff - June 2026 |
40 courses developed with your team |
| 5. Delivery |
June 30, 2026 |
Complete curriculum packages delivered |
Investment: $60,000-90,000
40 Level 1 courses | 12 curriculum lead licenses | 4 admin licenses | Virtual training | 2-day in-person training | Complete delivery by June 30, 2026
What We Need to Move Forward
To finalize quote and start the trial
- Programs of Study - Confirm exact course count
- User counts - 12 curriculum leads + 4 admins
- Budget authority - Confirmed for this fiscal or next year
- Procurement timeline - When can you execute PO/contract?
- Trial start date - Week of Feb 10 or Feb 17?
Next Steps: Starting the Trial
Let's get Virena and Chassity set up
1. Confirm Trial Start Date
Week of Feb 10 or Feb 17? Which works better for Virena and Chassity's schedules?
2. Provide Materials
Send Programs of Study document, user count confirmation, budget/timeline details
3. Schedule Kickoff
We'll send calendar invites for all 4 working sessions (2hr kickoff, two 1hr working sessions, 1hr debrief)
4. Platform Access
We'll get Virena and Chassity set up with trial accounts before the kickoff call
Questions?
Let's make sure we're 100% aligned before we start the trial
Context
The Challenge
Why this trial matters
- You're using Gemini for curriculum development, which is helpful but still manual
- With 40 courses to build by June 30th, the question is: can Sage give you the speed and quality you need to hit that deadline?
- This trial gives you proof that Sage can handle your full Level 1 build
- Over four sessions, Virena and Chassity will create 8 complete units—real curriculum you can use
Let's get started
Which week works better for the kickoff—Feb 10th or Feb 17th?