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Beloved East Los Angeles Math Teacher Dies of Cancer

By EGP Wire Servce

Jaime Escalante, the former Garfield High School math teacher who inspired the film “Stand and Deliver,” died today of cancer.

Escalante died this afternoon in Reno, Nev., where he was being treated for bladder cancer. He was 79.

A posting on the Garfield High School Facebook page read, “Our condolences to his family. He will forever live in our hearts and memories. The entire Garfield community and East L.A. extends our gratitude to God for allowing Mr. Escalante to grace us with his love and kindness.”

The Bolivian immigrant was credited with building the Advanced Placement calculus program at the East Los Angeles high school.

In his first calculus class at Garfield High School in 1979, Escalante taught five students. Two passed their advanced placement test. In the previous year, no students had taken the Advanced Placement Calculus test. Escalante’s math program continued to expand through the years, and grew to include several hundred students.

During the first few years, when a large number of his students excelled on the AP Calculus test, they were accused of cheating by College Board officials, and were forced to take the exam again. All of the students passed, and their original scores were reinstated.

His success was portrayed on the silver screen with the 1988 film “Stand and Deliver,” with Edward James Olmos taking on the role of Escalante.

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said in a statement, “During his tenure at Garfield High School many of our students excelled in learning, aspired to a higher education and went on to become very successful in various careers.  Today, they are living testaments to a teacher who demonstrated how high expectations, coupled with constant support, can overcome obstacles to a quality education. He will be missed.”

News of Escalante’s illness broke earlier this month, prompting widespread calls for donations to help with his medical care. A March 6 fundraiser was attended by Olmos, some of Escalante’s former students and some cast members of the film. They were able to raise enough to cover Escalantes’ medical expenses for two months.

Other fundraisers were held throughout the month, including one at El Tepeyac Café located on Evergreen Ave in Boyle Heights that raised $7,000.

Escalante taught at Garfield for 17 years, but he left in 1991, teaching in Sacramento and eventually in his native Bolivia. In February, his son took him to Reno, where he was being treated at a cancer center.

LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said in a statement, “During his tenure at Garfield High School many of our students excelled in learning, aspired to a higher education and went on to become very successful in various careers.  Today, they are living testaments to a teacher who demonstrated how high expectations, coupled with constant support, can overcome obstacles to a quality education. He will be missed.”

News of Escalante’s illness broke earlier this month, prompting widespread calls for donations to help with his medical care. A March 6 fundraiser was attended by Olmos, some of Escalante’s former students and some cast members of the film. They were able to raise enough to cover Escalantes’ medical expenses for two months.

Other fundraisers were held throughout the month, including one at El Tepeyac Café located on Evergreen Ave in Boyle Heights that raised $7,000.

Escalante taught at Garfield for 17 years, but he left in 1991, teaching in Sacramento and eventually in his native Bolivia. In February, his son took him to Reno, where he was being treated at a cancer center.

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