Cathy Ann Paulson

A 3rd grade teacher at Tulsa Street 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.

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, Paulson ranked:

More effective than average overall.
More effective than average in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, gained about 4 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.
More effective than average in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, gained about 2 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.

Paulson's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Tulsa Street Elementary, 2009 - 2003

Cathy Paulson's Response:

This value-added measure is just one small facet of what I teach my students. This measurement tool does not show the love of learning that I instill in my students; the appreciation of fine art, music, and literature as well as the ability to communicate effectively and to work together cooperatively. The results of a standardized test do not show how my students learn to appreciate diversity and learn to treat others with respect and empathy. All of these things that I teach my students are far more important life skills than performing well on a multiple choice test.

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.