Evelyn T. Soo
A 5th grade teacher at Westminster Avenue Elementary in 2010
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 2003-04 through 2009-10 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.
Math effectiveness
English effectiveness
About this rating
The red lines show The Times’ value-added estimates for this teacher. Soo falls within the “less effective than average” category of district teachers in math and within the “average” category in English. These ratings were calculated based on test scores from 127 students.
Because this is a statistical measure, each score has a degree of uncertainty. The shading represents the range of values within which Soo’s actual effectiveness score is most likely to fall. The score is most likely to be in the center of the shaded area, near the red line, and less likely in the lightly shaded area. Teachers with ratings based on a small number of student test scores will a have wider shaded range.
The beige area shows how the district's 11,500 elementary school teachers are distributed across the categories.
Soo's LAUSD teaching history
Years used for value-added rating. See FAQ for details.
- Westminster Avenue Elementary, 2010 - 2004
Evelyn Soo's Response:
Parts make a whole. A well rounded education develops the whole child. Focusing only on English and Math instruction the entire day does not provide for an encompassing well rounded curriculum. What parts are missing? Subjects such as History, Art, Music, Science, Physical Education, Drama, Geography, and Technology. By teaching those subjects I am filling in the missing necessary parts of a child's knowledge.
How can one ascertain teacher effectiveness based on testing two subjects out of many others a child has learned in my classroom?
I address and nurture the social and emotional, as well as the intellectual, aspects of a child. We need all three of those parts. How can the social and emotional growth of children in my classroom be measured? Paper and pencil testing does not determine that.
I teach and encourage a child to think out of the box, not how to fill in a circle with a pencil. By providing a well rounded education my students have the knowledge and life skills they need to grow and succeed.
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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