| Jaime Escalante was born in La Paz, Bolivia. While in Bolivia
he taught Physics and Mathematics for fourteen years. In 1964 he
decided to migrate to the United States. His first stop was the
Universidad de Puerto Rico, where he took some Science and Mathematics
courses. After moving from Puerto Rico to California, he found himself
not knowing how to speak English, and without any teaching credentials.
Despite the odds against him, he studied at nights at the Pasadena
City College earning a degree in Electronics. He then took a day
job, and continued studying in order to get a Mathematics degree.
In 1976 he began teaching at Garfield High School, in east Los
Angeles, California, where drugs, gangs and violence were facts
of daily life. Despite these obstacles, Escalante was able to
motivate a small group of students to take, and pass the AP calculus
exam in 1982. The Educational Testing Service, which administers
the test, invalidated the scores, believing that the students
had cheated. Most of the 18 pupils retook the test and passed,
making Escalante a national hero almost overnight.
By 1991, the number of Garfield students taking advanced placement
examinations in math and other subjects had increased to 570.
That was the year Escalante left the school, citing faculty politics
and petty jealousies. He was hired by the Sacramento school system
almost instantly. The district pays his salary, but the National
Science Foundation, the Atlantic Richfield Co. and the Foundation
for Advancements in Science and Education underwrite much of his
equipment and special programs.
Today, Jaime Escalante is considered one of the most famous educators
in the United States. He was the subject of the 1988 movie Stand
and Deliver, which dramatized his efforts to help underachieving
Latino students beat the odds and pass an advanced placement calculus
test. This splendid semi-documentary on the life of ghetto school
teacher Jaime Escalante (played by Edward James Olmos) has already
become one of the classic films about American education. As a
result of its faithfulness to life, the film is a profound tribute
to the positive impact a good teacher can make.
In recognition of his incredible achievements, Escalante was
awarded the United States Presidential Medal and the Andres Bello
award by the Organization of American States.
References (Melanie Cole, "Escalante
Tech", Hispanic, 11-30-1994, p .* "Stand and Deliver",
Magill's Survey of Cinema, 06-15-1995. * Gary Libman, "Success
Keeps Multiplying for Jaime Escalante"; Home Edition, Los
Angeles Times, 05-23-1995, pp E-1. * Roberto Bustamante, "Jaime
Escalante el maestro de todos los tiempos", El Diario/La
Prensa, 12-02-1995.)
Stand & Deliver
1988 - USA
Director - Ramon Menendez
Stand & Deliver stars Edward James Olmos as a math teacher
in a tough East LA high school. Faced with a largely Hispanic
class labeled as losers and trouble-makers, Olmos (as true life
teacher Jaime Escalante) leans into the struggle and finally
convinces the kids that it's up to them to change their lives.
The resulting success is challenged by the establishment as
some sort of chicanery, but the ultimate triumph is the proof
that these people have learned to take control of their lives.
Jaime Escalante; Sensational Teacher
By: Byers, Ann
Library Binding//Illustrated
128 pages
Presents the life of the Bolivian-born teacher who immigrated to
the United States where he inspired and motivated his inner city
students to excel in mathematics.
Publication Date: July 1996;
Publisher: Enslow Publishers
Math . . . Who Needs It?! 
Author: Featuring Jaime Escalante
VHS
Number of Pages: 58 mins.
Year Published: 1991
Grade Level: 5-Adult
A one-hour entertaining and inspiring TV special starring Jaime
Escalante, the renowned math teacher who inspired the Academy
Award nominated movie "Stand and Deliver," and his students
with guest appearances by Bill Cosby, Dizzy Gillespie, Teri Garr,
Joe Piscopo, Marla Gibbs, Paul Rodriguez, Jeff Altman, Rosana
DeSoto, Paula Poundstone, Charles Fleischer, D.L. Hughley and
world class professionals, engineers and designers at their workplaces
from the Futures (6-tape set) and Futures 2 (6-tape
Set) series.
Starting in Jaime Escalante's East Los Angeles classroom, Math
Who Needs It?! is a fun and exciting adventure giving viewers
a new perspective on how math is used in real life. From application
in skateboard design and today's high-tech rollercoasters to fashion,
sports, and music, you've never experienced math like this before!
Futures (6-tape set) 
VHS
Number of Pages: 30 mins. ea.
Year Published: 1990
Grade Level: 5-Adult
Hosted by Jaime Escalante, this series of exciting videos demonstrates
the broad applications of math and science in various industries
while connecting them to students' goals, plans, and desires.
Industries covered in the six tapes are:
- Agriculture & Aircraft Design
- Cartography & Fashion
- Putting Man In Space & Sound Engineering
- Water Engineering & Optics
- Statistics & Sports Performance
- Architecture and Structural Engineering & Automotive Design
Meredith Berrier, 12th Grade Geometry and Algebra II
Jaime Escalante Mathematics Teacher Awards 1996
Teacher: Lisa Young, Cleveland High School, Los Angeles Unified
School District
Futures (6-tape set) 
VHS
Number of Pages: 30 mins. ea.
Year Published: 1990
Grade Level: 5-Adult
Hosted by Jaime Escalante, this series of exciting videos demonstrates
the broad applications of math and science in various industries
while connecting them to students' goals, plans, and desires.
Industries covered in the six tapes are:
- Agriculture & Aircraft Design
- Cartography & Fashion
- Putting Man In Space & Sound Engineering
- Water Engineering & Optics
- Statistics & Sports Performance
- Architecture and Structural Engineering & Automotive Design
***Peabody Award
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/Subject=Escalante%2C%20Jaime/002-4577037-5232419
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