Terrence M. Snyder

A 4th grade teacher at Wonderland Avenue Elementary in 2007

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, Snyder 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.

Snyder's LAUSD teaching history

2002-03 through 2008-09 academic years

Wonderland Avenue Elementary, 2007 - 2003

Terrence Snyder's Response:

EECI - The "secret" to effective teaching. Expectations -the teacher who felt her students could not create a sentence because it "was too difficult" does not have high expectations and it is no surprise her scores are low. Engagement - students who are involved in solving problems, doing research on topics they are interested in will not be discipline problems and will actually learn. Critical Investigation/Thinking. Always ask "why" questions or "how do you know that?" or "how can you prove/justify that answer? Students are then re-engaged and if the teacher respects the student (big "if") discussions can be enlightening, clarifying and even fun for both students and teacher. Teachers have to trust themselves and their knowledge; and they have to trust the students, most of whom do want to learn. I am a National Board Certified teacher (retired) and was LA County/LAUSD Teacher of the Year, so fortunately, I was recognized by my peers.

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.