Culture

Jaime Escalante, Teacher Who Inspired Stand and Deliver Dies

by Amy Judd | March 30, 2010 at 04:23 pm

773 views | 11 Recommendations | 2 comments

Jaime Escalante, the Math Teacher From an East Los Angeles High School Who Inspried the Film Stand and Deliver Has Died

Jaime Escalante passed away on Tuesday March 30th at the age of 79 in Reno, Nevada. Mr. Escalante was being treated for bladder cancer but he lost that battle on Tuesday.

In early March, actors from the movie Stand and Deliver were appealing to fans and well-wishers for donations to help Mr. Escalante pay for his medical bills as he had run out of money. They had raised $5,000 but needed $25,000 for his treatment and Mr. Escalante had no money left himself to pay his bills.

Jaime Escalante: No Money for Medical Bills

Mr. Escalante emigrated from Bolivia and taught at Garfield High School. He is credited with inspiring students to excel at advanced math and science and as a result of his hard work the school had more Advanced Placement calculus than all other schools in the United States, except for three.

Edward James Olmos played Escalante in the film based on his story.

Olmos says Escalante proved that inner city students can perform at the highest levels, and left an important legacy for American education.

Jaime Escalante will be remembered for challenging his students to perform at their highest level and to not give up, even when they may want to. He leaves behind him a legacy for great teaching and many teachers have cited him as an inspiration and a reason that they got in to teaching.