TCLA's Report Card: Features: 4: Student Leaders
Becoming Leaders in a Bottom-Up Accountability System: Teaching Quality

Map of LA County

by Yvonne Ballesteros
TCLA's outreach coordinator, Yvonne Ballesteros, works with student leaders at four Los Angeles schools to develop reports on the conditions in their schools.
In the last issue, high school student leaders from across greater Los Angeles developed their own school reports by gathering data on the learning materials in their schools. In this issue, student leaders distributed a survey asking students to report on the access to quality teachers at their school. Each student leader also interviewed a teacher who had changed his or her outlook on learning and life. These interviews explore conditions teachers and students think are necessary to support quality teaching. Some student leaders drew upon the results of the student surveys and teacher interviews to pose questions to their principal about what steps their school has taken to ensure that students have quailty teachers.

Mark Keppel High School

Photo: Denise Ballesteros & Kenny Yee

Checkbox Mark Keppel High School Report
Reports by Denise Ballesteros, Christine Ro,
Joanne Lee, & Kenny Yee

TCLA: What did you find was most surprising about the survey?

Joanne Lee: I was surprised that quite a few students did not have positive experiences when it came to their teachers using creative methods to help them understand the lessons and materials. Now that I think about it, I agree with this because in some of my classes there is hardly any time for student participation and different activities.

TCLA: What does teacher quality mean to you?

Joanne Lee: A quality teacher is someone that challenges you to think while being supportive. A teacher should genuinely care and be concerned with how their students are learning and feeling in their class. The most influential teachers that I have had are positive and available for students to talk to.

 New Roads School

Photo: Diana Flores and Carlos Hernández

Checkbox New Roads High School (Santa Monica) Report
Reports by Diana Flores & Carlos Hernández

TCLA: Does this type of information matter? And, if so, why?

Diana Flores: At this school we do have a solid base of teachers. We have really great teachers, but at the same time students with different experiences have different opinions about teachers. Those students who might come from public schools or schools where they haven’t had access to quality teachers might say that a teacher who is okay is great. Student expectations are different.

TCLA: What does teacher quality mean to you?

Diana Flores: Over the summer, I read that a quality teacher is willing to learn from the students, while the student also learns from the teacher. I think a quality teacher is one that is open-minded and flexible with ideas. At the same time, when we mess up or when we fail, they can teach us a lesson and guide us to what we have to work towards.

Roosevelt High School

Photo: Everardo León & Liz Escobedo

Checkbox Roosevelt High School Report

Reports by Everardo León & Liz Escobedo

TCLA: What did you find was most surprising about the student survey on teachers?

Everardo León: I expected the results to turn out the way they did. Not all teachers are completely qualified or motivational. There were less rankings of 5 than I thought and I was surprised about the number of 2’s—I wonder what teachers these students have had. Hopefully one day this will be addressed so that all students have quality teachers and will rank them highly.

TCLA: Does this type of information matter? And, if so, why?

Everardo León: If students complain or have problems, they talk to their friends about it but they can’t do anything about it. So if there was more communication between the teachers and students, things could be solved. It is good for teachers and administrators to see what the students are thinking.

TCLA: Do you think that their answers are reflective of the school in general? Why or why not?

Everardo León: There are teachers that are supportive in all subjects. But I can see how the students that are in AP/Honors program get different attention because they have to study after school for the exams in May.

Santa Monica High School

Photo: Moises Castillo

Checkbox Santa Monica High School (SMMUSD)

Reports by Moises Castillo, Cynthia Santiago, & Anthony Simmons

TCLA: What did you find the least surprising about the survey?

Anthony Simmons: Most students said that they felt that most of their teachers knew the subject matter pretty well. Quite a few students did not feel that teachers thought that they could learn. I think it’s because some teachers label students. As soon as they walk through the door, teachers look at the students and point out certain students that are “troublemakers” or “smart.”

TCLA: Does this type of information matter? And, if so, why?

Cynthia Santiago: It is good to have some accountability on the teachers and their relationship with students. There is no other way that that is done on campus. From these surveys you can get a sense of how the students feel about teachers. You get to see what students’ needs are and how they are affecting students in the classrooms.

TCLA: What does teacher quality mean to you?

Anthony: A teacher that goes far and beyond their requirements to help students out, such as, staying after school, coming in early, or even asking the students if they understand the material.

Cynthia: Teachers that present material in different ways and styles, such as, having creative activities with the students instead of lecturing. Also a quality teacher gives you different perspectives about an issue along with different sources. It is important that teachers connect themselves with students and devote extra time to students.

Yvonne Ballesteros leads TCLA's outreach efforts to high school students across Los Angeles.

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