Jennifer Lee Blaine

A 3rd grade teacher at Welby Way 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, Blaine ranked:

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.
Average in English. 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.

Blaine's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Welby Way Elementary, 2009 - 2003

Jennifer Blaine's Response:

Judging a teacher's effectiveness based on scores from one particular standardized test is a ridiculous idea - especially when that test does not actually asses critical thinking or problem solving skills that are relevant to a child's life. Even more ridiculous - according to the value-added score approach, teachers who teach in gifted/high achieving programs will always be considered "average teachers." Students in such programs are already considered proficient and advanced in math and language arts. How much more growth are they supposed to demonstrate on a standardized test each year? Should ALL of these students achieve PERFECT scores on the test each year in order for their instructor to be considered a "more/most effective" teacher?

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.