Jaime Escalante, inspiration for the film "Stand and Deliver" has passed

[JCJRSmith]

What an amazing teacher.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125372744&sc=fb&cc=fp

Jaime Escalante transformed a tough East Los Angeles high school by motivating struggling inner-city students to master advanced math, became one of America's most famous teachers and inspired the movie "Stand and Deliver."

He died Tuesday at age 79 after battling cancer for several years, family friend Keith Miller said.

Some great pictures accompany the article.

RIP Jaime - you were an inspiration.

 

[starrzone]

That's so eerie; I was just reading about him the other day. So sorry to hear he passed away . I hope to become a teacher, and people like he and LouAnne Johnson (Dangerous Minds) inspire me so much. We need more teachers like him .

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

 

[D&DDisney]

Love his story! RIP Jaime

 

[Aisling]

RIP Jaime. He was an AMAZING man and I think every teacher should read (or watch) his story. He was a Teacher in the true sense of the word.

 

[mking624]

He was actually an extended relative of mine. Most of my family was born and raised in Cochabamba, Bolivia...Jaime was born in La Paz (his wife was from Cochabamba). He and my Tio Antonio (my great-uncle) were very close growing up and through their adult lives. My Tio Antonio opened a school in his name in Bolivia. My grandfather and Jaime were also close, but not as close as he and my Tio. The odd thing is that my grandfather passed away on March 30, 2004 after battling cancer...Jaime passed away on March 30, 2010 after battling cancer. Not a good day for our family. I never had the honor of meeting him...but heard some wonderful stories. RIP Jaime!!