Dara Sae-Tang

A 5th grade teacher at Valley Alternative Magnet 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, Sae-Tang ranked:

Less effective than average overall.
Less effective than average in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 4 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.
Less effective than average in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 3 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.

Sae-Tang's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Valley Alternative Magnet, 2009 - 2007
Glenfeliz Boulevard Elementary, 2006

Dara Sae-Tang's Response:

I believe that parents have a right to know how effective teachers are. With that being said my feelings on my "effectiveness" is pretty shocking. I have seen my student's grow into insightful and articulate people. I make sure to incorporate state standards for all subjects and have seen success for many of my low and high performing students. One thing I do feel I am effective at is preparing students on how to apply their skills to real world applications. I have always used test scores and data to adjust my curriculum and instruction. I will say that when students come into a class many grade levels below standard it is hard to help them gain points when we don't have time to "re-teach" skills. Maybe I need to re-evaluate my curriculum and see how to best serve all my students. Better resources and support from the district many also help me be more effective.

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.