In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight trailblazing Bolivian American educator Jaime Escalante.
Jaime Escalante was born in La Paz, Bolivia, in 1930. A son of teacher parents, Escalante immigrated to the United States in the 1960s, after teaching mathematics and physics in Bolivia for 12 years, settling in Southern California.
Upon arriving in the U.S., Escalante sought a better life for himself; he worked several jobs, taught himself English, and earned another college degree before being hired to teach at Garfield High School in 1974 — the school, in East Los Angeles, was known for its challenges in providing education.
Initially disheartened by the state of Garfield, Escalante was unsure whether he’d be able to make a difference in teaching his students, a majority Hispanic population, most of whom were not adequately prepared to learn high school-level math and science. Rather than offering classes geared towards poorly performing students, Escalante began offering AP Calculus courses.
Initially opposed by the school administration, who were doubtful of his unorthodox methods, Escalante gathered a group of students who were up for a challenge and started to teach advanced calculus, changing the school’s status quo. Not long after the class’s first offering, Escalante oversaw dozens of students passing and excelling on the AP exam each year, combating the skepticism of his superiors. He gained national attention when a book and film, Stand and Deliver, detailed his story in 1988.
Despite his national acclaim and recognition, Escalante continued to teach at Garfield until 1991, when he left the school due to administrative differences. However, he continued to teach at various universities in the U.S. and Bolivia until 1998. Throughout his time at Garfield, Escalante’s math enrichment program had grown to more than 400 students, a large proportion of whom entered the University of Southern California post-graduation.
After retiring, Escalante returned to his native Bolivia to live with his family until he traveled to the U.S. to pursue treatment for bladder cancer in 2010. Passing away later that year from cancer, Escalante is remembered for the countless lives and educational futures he impacted at Garfield High School and beyond.
Jaime Escalante has been recognized with numerous awards, accolades, and honorary degrees for his educational contributions. They include a Presidential Medal for Excellence in Education and a Hispanic Heritage Award.
