Ellen Jean Tweed

A 4th grade teacher at Nueva Vista Elementary in 2008

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.

Overall value-added effectiveness

Math effectiveness

English effectiveness

This chart shows where teachers in this effectiveness category fall on a distribution of all teachers’ scores.

Compared with other Los Angeles Unified teachers on the value-added measure of test score improvement, Tweed 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.

Tweed's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Ellen Tweed's Response:

Now we are judging teachers on one or two days of our student's lives? How could this be possible? We are creating students who are good at discerning answers between a, b, c, and d. Does this help prepare them for jobs in their future? Does it incorporate other life skills such as communication, appreciation, tolerance, acceptance, seeking joy, and self esteem? We are already seeing the gradual disappearance of physical education, science, art, music, theatre, and dance--so they can become better test takers?

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.