Helene Reisa Aran

A 4th grade teacher at Burton 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, Aran 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.
Most effective in English. Students of teachers in this category, on average, gained about 7 percentile points on the California Standards Test compared with other students at their grade level.

Aran's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Burton Street Elementary, 2009 - 2003

Helene Aran's Response:

Hi,

I cannot believe the misconception the LA times has of teachers. I agree as in any profession there are some teachers who need help or have to leave. I think the system needs revamping. However to humiliate teachers by publishing their ratings(by the way mine was good) is a disgrace. If you are not in education you have absolutely no business judging or disclosing information in such a public way. I do believe parents could be included if the principals choose to share that info. Teachers should be held in high esteem. This is not professional on your end. You ssy you want to find out the good teachers. I don't think so. I think you want to show the public that our school system is failing because of teachers. NOT SO. Calif standards are so high that it is often impossible to meet them. You need to interview all kinds of teachers. Get their opinions. Why the LA Times chose to take this route is beyond me. Most teachers work VERY hard.I have already spent a week(no pay) setting up my room.We spend lots of our own money.Most of all we love children,that is why we do what we do. We teach the whole child not just how to take a test. I challenge any of you reporters to take one of the standarized test cold. I would be curious to see your score. It breaks my heart for all of us teachers out there to be humiliated by what you are doing. You need to start at the top.People who run the school systems,that should be your target.I could go on forver but I won't

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.