Eric Wayne Mention

A 5th grade teacher at Dr. Theo. T. Alexander Jr., Science Center in 2006

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, Mention ranked:

Less effective than average overall.
Less effective than average in math. Students of teachers in this category, on average, lost about 4 percentile points 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.

Mention's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Dr. Theo. T. Alexander Jr., Science Center, 2006 - 2005
Raymond Avenue Elementary, 2004

Eric Mention's Response:

This was a brand new school that after the first year lost half the staff and in the second year a third. It was also an affiliated charter school and teachers were provided limited support in implementing and designing an "inquiry" based learning environment. The first principal was an ineffective leader, which in part, resulted in the large teacher turn-over. When examining and analyzing "value-added", there needs to be the presentation of all the facts and factors that contribute to creating a successful or unsuccessful learning environment. I have been a teacher for ten years and the measure of my success are former students who have invited to their high school graduation and I know along the way, I have helped them reach this for goal before entering college. In addition, the vast of majority of my students were at Advanced and/or Proficient and remained in that category in Mathematics, English and Science.

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.