Gwendolyn There Zimlin

A 4th grade teacher at Rosa Parks Learning Center 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, Zimlin ranked:

Less effective than 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.
Least effective in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 7 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.

Zimlin's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Rosa Parks Learning Center, 2009 - 2007
Glenwood Elementary, 2005 - 2003

Gwendolyn Zimlin's Response:

I am disappointed to see this. This doesn't show my student's previous scores in 3rd grade. Many of my students were far below basic or below basic. Most of my students were in English Language Development classes and are grouped by levels 1-4. I referred 7 students to student success team, and because there are many avenues to go through not all of them were eligible for resource even though they have been referred almost every year. Every child brings in their own special talents and abilities. I try my hardest to make them succeed. Maybe that means they may not meet advanced or proficient by year's end, but it might mean they improved. Isn't improvement a measure of success? Every class is different, my test scores for 2008-2009 were quite different. I don't think this is a measure of my ability as a teacher. There are many factors. It takes a village to raise a child, isn't there any truth in that?

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.