Annie Perez Sakai
A 4th grade teacher at Lankershim Elementary in 2009
These graphs show a teacher's "value-added" rating based on his or her students' progress on the California Standards Tests in math and English. The Times’ analysis used all valid student scores available for this teacher from the 2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years. The value-added scores reflect a teacher's effectiveness at raising standardized test scores and, as such, capture only one aspect of a teacher's work.
Compared with other Los Angeles Unified teachers on the value-added measure of test score improvement, Sakai ranked:
- Average overall.
- Average in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, did not gain or lose significantly on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.
- Average in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, did not gain or lose significantly on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.
Sakai's LAUSD teaching history
2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years
- Lankershim Elementary, 2009 - 2003
Annie Sakai's Response:
I was hired in 2000 on an emergency credential and then become fully credentialed three years later. As a new teacher, you are juggled between grade levels since you have the least seniority. In 2005 and again in 2007, I was on two maternity leaves and did not get to complete the year with my students. I wish your system would measure progress on a yearly basis also, rather than an average of 9 years since it could provide a smaller snapshot of effectiveness and account for some of the circumstances that occurred in that particular year, such as maternity leaves, being juggled between grade levels, or acquiring more professional growth, such as a teaching credential in my case. If your system could measure progress in one year (2009), or even in the last two years (2008-2010), you would see I am in your "most effective" range since I have increased the scores of at least 85% of my students. Now, with more seniority, I am able to stay in the same grade level and grow professionally every year. Seeing that I am rated as an "average" teacher with your system offends me since my passion for teaching drives me to go above and beyond everyday to lead my students to success academically. I never take the privilege of challenging and teaching my students for granted. I instill a sense of moral and social responsibility so that they will always stay on the course of making their dream come true. I ignite fires in them so that they do not perform to get the high score for me but for their future. I genuinely care and respect all of my students to set examples of how to treat individuals and always serve as a model of how to live your best life. These are not qualities of an "average" teacher. I challenge you to measure my scores, the most recent in 2010, to give the most accurate up to date analysis of my performance and you will see I am not an "average" teacher, but a teacher who is the "most effective" in doing her job every day.
The Times gave LAUSD elementary school teachers rated in this database the opportunity to preview their value-added evaluations and publicly respond. Some issues raised by teachers may be addressed in the FAQ. Teachers who have not commented may do so by contacting The Times.
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