Heather Naomi Smith

Heather Smith's Response:

Originally when I heard about this report, I was just going to ignore it. However, after reading my own rating, upon going into my school this week to start setting up my classroom, I decided to share my thoughts. First of all, I saw that in Language Arts I was rated as "More Effective," but was rated as "Least Effective" in Math. Overall, I was given a rating of "Less Effective." One would think that with the above ratings I would at least be rated as "Average Effective," but no such luck. I was stunned at my math rating, as almost ALL of my students have earned a score of proficient or advanced on their CST the year I taught them. It was then explained to me, that the rating was not based on students’ raw scores, or if they were proficient or advanced, but rather on how much their score went up from the previous year. Almost all of my students come to me really high, so I realized that I was being penalized for KEEPING them at proficient or advanced. Now, in some instances, it was not possible to really move them higher, as they were already advanced and there is nothing higher than that.
I work at a Math/Science/Technology Magnet, and one year a third of my students came to me from third grade with a perfect 600 score in math. Yes, I have had students continue to have a perfect score. However, let's say someone who came in with a 600, went down to a 550. Well, a raw score of 550 is still a REALLY good score, and still advanced. However, it went down, so now I am labeled as ineffective??? Keeping in mind that I am not teaching 3rd. I am teaching 4th. I am teaching BRAND NEW material and more of it, as 4th grade has more new standards in math than any other grade level. I am teaching algebra. I am teaching y=2x+3 to nine year olds! I have parents request me. I have had administrators tell me that I have a "Knack" for teaching and that I should be video taped to show others how to teach, but yet I am labeled as ineffective? I am at school every day at 6:15 AM. I spend personal time grading papers, e-mailing parents, reassessing, etc. I have sacrificed myself, my time, and my time with family for a job I love, all to have someone form the LA times run something through a computer, post it without thinking about potential problems, and tear me apart and humiliate me in a couple weeks, when I have spent the last 7 years building my reputation. Am I perfect? Heck NO! No teacher is, we are human, just like everyone else. To the LA Times: I hope NO ONE does to you, what you have done to me.
I also call this report into question, as information is missing, such as test scores from another year.