- published: 01 Apr 2010
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Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutierrez (December 31, 1930 – March 30, 2010) was a Bolivian educator known for teaching students calculus from 1974 to 1991 at Garfield High School, East Los Angeles, California. Escalante was the subject of the 1988 film Stand and Deliver, in which he is portrayed by Edward James Olmos.
In 1993, the asteroid 5095 Escalante was named after him.
Escalante was born to two teachers of Aymara ancestry on December 31, 1930 in La Paz, Bolivia. He was proud of his Aymara heritage and as an adult would proudly proclaim "The Aymara knew math before the Greeks and Egyptians". He taught mathematics and physics for 12 years in his mother country before immigrating to the USA. After immigrating, "he had to work many odd jobs, teach himself English and earn another college degree before he could return to the classroom." In 1974, he began teaching at Garfield High School. Escalante eventually changed his mind about returning to work when he found 12 students willing to take an algebra class.
Making a Difference: Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante On Being A Teacher
Jaime Escalante Forever
Remembering Math Teacher Jaime Escalante
FUTURES with Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante. En el Día del Maestro boliviano lo recordamos con estas imágenes del archivo de ATB
NBC News: Jaime Escalante
Conozca la historia de líder campesino y profesor boliviano, latinos influyentes en Estados Unidos
Funeral March for Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante
Actors: Solomon J. LeFlore (miscellaneous crew), Rif Hutton (actor), Andy Garcia (actor), Edward James Olmos (actor), Lou Diamond Phillips (actor), Burton Sharp (miscellaneous crew), Michael Yama (actor), Craig Safan (composer), Carmen Argenziano (actor), Estelle Harris (actress), Irene Olga López (actress), Sydney Gilner (miscellaneous crew), Mark Phelan (actor), Lindsay Law (producer), Frank Aragon (actor),
Plot: Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a Hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods help gang members and no-hopers pass the rigorous Advanced Placement exam in calculus.
Keywords: 1980s, authority, barrio, based-on-true-story, calculus, cheating, chicano, combover, coming-of-age, dedicated-teacher