The fallout from the L.A. Times publication of value-added analysis of student test scores has begun tragically. While testing and assessment experts agree that the value-added rankings of teachers based on student test scores is not an appropriate use of the technique, the Obama administration and school districts around the country continue the practice. The Times exacerbated the problem by publishing teacher names and the useless rankings. Here is one result. Is this what you want for Kennewick or the state of Washington?
Teacher kills himself after rankings published - Willa Rogers – Sep 27,
>2010
A very sad story here in Los Angeles today: The body of an LAUSD veteran of
13 years was found this weekend, after he’d made arrangements for a
substitute to take over his class.
For those who don’t know, a few weeks ago the Los Angeles Times published a
searchable database of teacher rankings across the district. The union
local, UTLA, has a ton of info on its website as to why the “value-added”
methodology of the rankings are flawed, and how teachers are unfairly
penalized.
One of the teachers who received below-average ranking was Rigoberto Ruelas,
39, who taught fifth grade teacher at Miramonte Elementary School. From LA
Weekly:
The 39-year-old hiker from South Gate went missing last week after he phoned
in for a substitute to take over his duties at Miramonte Elementary School
Monday and Tuesday. Now television reports indicate he might have been
distraught over his lackluster showing at the Los Angeles Times’
controversial teacher ratings site.
Ruelas was found dead in the Angeles National Forest Sunday morning, and his
Toyota SUV was nearby, according to reports. It appeared he might have
jumped off a bridge that spanned a 100-foot-deep ravine.
The Times database had Ruelas as “Less effective than average overall,”
“Less effective than average in math,” and “Average in English.”
Ruelas taught for 13 years and, according to family members, had perfect
attendance in recent years.
UTLA’s reaction, according to the Daily Breeze:
United Teachers Los Angeles President A.J. Duffy called the publication of
the list of teacher ratings “despicable,” and the union — which had opposed
publication of the list — issued a statement calling on The Times to remove
it from its website.
“UTLA is appalled at the L.A. Times,” Duffy told KCAL. “We predicted there
would be problems. This teacher was a great teacher by all accounts — loved
by students, parents, and respected by his colleagues.
“I will be reaching out to Superintendent (Ramon) Cortines and Deputy
Superintendent (John) Deasy to join forces to implore the L.A. Times to take
the names of individual teachers and test scores off the website and cease
and desist from publishing any in the future.”
The Breeze also published this response from the Schools Superintendent:
“Mr. Ruelas was a passionate and caring teacher who put his students first,”
Cortines said. “He made a difference in the lives of so many in his
classroom, and by staying after the bell rang to tutor students. He
encouraged his students to do better and aim higher, that they too could go
to college. In addition, during his 14 years of teaching, Mr. Ruelas had
nearly perfect attendance. We need more teachers like him.”
This morning Pres. Obama gave an interview to the Today Show on the topic of
education reform, in which he stated, according to the AP, “We have got to
identify teachers who are doing well. Teachers who are not doing well, we
have got to give them the support and the training to do well. And if some
teachers aren’t doing a good job, they’ve got to go.” Unfortunately,
Rigoberto Ruelas was not given that support before being publicly tarnished
by the published rankings.
And the LA Times’ response? “We understand that the sheriff’s department is
currently investigating Mr. Ruelas death. We extend our sympathy to his
family.” In spite of UTLA’s protests and boycott, the newspaper has not
removed the rankings database.
There will be more Rigoberto Ruelases down the road: dedicated teachers
whose lives are ruined after inspiring countless children’s lives. We owe it
to them, and to our children, to demand that they’re given the support and
training they need to be effective, and to not measure their effectiveness
through the sole prism of student testing.
Update: Adding california keefer’s comment here because it was posted late
in the thread, and deserves acknowledgment:
He taught at a low performing school. (2+ / 0-)
The API for this school was 662
The school is 97% Hispanic 2.7 % black and .2% white.
In comparison, my wife taught at one of the poorest schools in San
Bernardino county 99.9% of the children qualified for free lunch (only our
daughter didn’t)and they scored 700. She now teaches at a middle of the road
school that scored 795. The value added assessment that the LA times used is
the exact same method the Obama administration embraces. This man was a
bilingual teacher that was described by his students was caring dedicated
teacher. He made sure kids had food to eat and helped families. He stayed
late to tutor low performing kids. A testimonial on a website
It was an honor to meet such a great person like Mr. Ruelas. He was my 5th
grade teacher and my favorite one. He tought me so much, with him i learnd
my division, my time tables and even how to make the best pancakes in the
world. He was always a happy and energetic person all his student loved him.
As i moved on to middle school i still went back and visit him once in a
while to take him a little christmas present or just to say hello. Now that
i hear this tragic story i just cant belive its him. He will be miss my
condolences to his family love, Alex
My wife teaches at a much higher school and through the years has had kids
with parents in jail, mentally disturbed children, kids with teenage gang
members for parents and ELL fifth graders that not only didn’t speak
English, but were functionally illiterate in their own language.These are
the challenges teachers face and they are far more important than specious
test scores of unproven value. It sounds like Ruelas was a fine teacher that
should have been judged by more than the test scores of his already
challenging students.
Teachers experience considerable stress almost daily. Individually teachers cope as well as they can. If the sheriff’s office confirms the suicide resulted from publication of teacher rankings that would be tragic. Teachers, unlike criminals, celebrities, sports figures and politicians are not public figures and should be free from media exposure unless approved by the school district.
Given the controversial nature of the value-added analysis and its use as a sole marker for teacher performance by the LA Times it would be appropriate for the paper to remove it from publication.