Mary E. Johnson

A 4th grade teacher at Riverside Drive 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, Johnson ranked:

Most effective overall.
Most effective in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, gained about 11 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.

Johnson's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Riverside Drive Elementary, 2009 - 2003

Mary Johnson's Response:

We teach in an urban school district. We teach all children who come to us no matter what their academic level. I have never met a teacher who did not want their students to succeed. Within any classroom one can find students of every ability level from those who struggle at every turn to those that excell at all things. We teach, enrich, and counsel all while following a district mandated curriculum. Often this curriculum is a one size fits all approach that must be constantly modified to address the needs of the 36 individuals who come to us each day. Teachers in the LAUSD are burdened also by enough district mandated paperwork to clear a forest. But, what makes us special is that we care. We care for each and every one of those students who come to us. We collaborate and continually improve our skills so that we may bring the best to our students. ALL OF US - ALWAYS!

Mary E. Johnson

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.