Dennis Steven Surles

A 5th grade teacher at Montara Avenue 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, Surles 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.

Surles' LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Montara Avenue Elementary, 2008 - 2003

Dennis Surles's Response:

I've kept an eye on this since the LAUSD adopted the 'Open Court' program. That's where the ENGLISH score comes from.
I have also spent WAY too much math time on factors and multiples, the base of the math pyramid, rather than teach the 'Key Standards' that the LAUSD 'believes' will appear on the spring state test.

I also taught U.S. History, Science and Physical education, logically, taking time away from the 'Key Standards'.

Can I do better? There will be years. 2003 my class scored above the state and district averages in every category except two. That did not make it into my average. I did not administer the test in 2009 and that did not make it into my statistics. Would THAT have made a difference? We will never know.

Is this embarrassing? Who wouldn't be? If I was in the Major Leagues I would be on the bench - which I am being a housed teacher - or sent down to the minors until my slump ended.

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.