Jaime Alfonso Escalante December 31St, 1930 - March 30Th, 2010
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Jaime Alfonso Escalante December 31st, 1930 - March 30th, 2010 1. He was an immigrant from the country of Bolivia 2. He worked as as math teacher in East Los Angeles Garfield High School. 3. Escalante gained national recognition for transforming the math department of a poor Hispanic high school. 4. Students sacrificed their free time and other activities to study for the Advanced Placement math test. 5. His high success rate led to national acclaim and the subject of the film Stand and Deliver in 1988 6. Date the Escalante was born December 31st, 1930 7. City and country where he was born La Paz, Bolivia 8. His mother’s name Sara Escalante his father’s name Zenobio Escalante 9. His parents worked as poorly paid school teachers 10. His parents worked in the remote Aymara and Quechua Indian villages 11. Escalante grew up in the town Achacachi 12. Escalante amused himself by playing soccer, basketball, and handball 13. Escalante’s father was abusive so his mother moved to La Paz. At 14, Escalante was sent to San Calixto, a prestigious Jesuit High School. 14. Escalante’s favorite subject math and engineering. 15. After Escalante served in the army, his friend convinced him to go to college and become a school teacher 16. His teaching experience a. Escalante had remarkable abilities in physics and mathematics b. No books and no experience, Escalante taught physics in American Institute 17. Escalante married Fabiola Tapia on November 25th, 1954 and had 2 sons: Jaime Jr. and Fernando 18. Escalante was a math teacher in the following schools: San Calixto, National Bolívar High, Commercial High 19. In 1961, Escalante spent 1 year in Puerto Rico as part of President John F. Kennedy's Alliance for Progress program 20. The program offered training to industrial arts and science teachers from Latin America 21. The main reason why finally Escalante granted his wife wish to move to the United states tour several schools in the United States and was impressed with their facilities and equipment Immigrated to United States 22. Escalante’s trade mark when he started teaching 1964 Volkswagen beetle 23. Escalante had a few jobs dishwasher and cook before realizing his true passion was teaching. 24. Escalante did not have the proper credentials. Explain how he managed to finally earned his degree. Had to earn a bachelor’s degree and American teaching certificate. He went to school part time. In 1973 he earned a bachelor’s of art. Won a National Science Foundation scholarship – went to school full time – earned teaching certificate in 1 year 25. In 1974, he interviewed for teaching jobs with Los Angeles Unified School District. He accepted a job as a computer teacher at Garfield High. 26. Explain Escalante’s 1st year at Garfield High: very disappointing – no computers. He taught math and kids were unruly, poor educated, disrespectful, and violent. Used fingers to count. Total chaos. 27. Explain Escalante’s 2nd year at Garfield High: He returned due to commitment to teaching and his family. All administrators were fired and the Western Association of schools and colleges threatened to revoke accreditation because of school performance so poorly. 28. In 1979 Escalante was able to introduce Calculus at Garfield High. 29. List Escalante’s unorthodox way of teaching: yell for being lazy and late plus encourage them and taught them to believe on themselves. They could succeed with ganas – hard work and desire. Wore funny hats to get students attention. 30. In 1979, Calculus was introduced and 5 students took the class. 4 students passed the AP test meaning college credit. 31. Ways that Escalante was able to help his students: offered after school sessions, Saturday classes, tutor during their lunch, tutor before classes, got parents involved to help the kids come to school and do homework. 32. In 1982, Escalante’s class had 18 students. All 18 students pass the AP Calculus test. There was a problem, what was it: Educational Testing Services gave 14 students invalid grades because ETS believed they have cheated making same mistakes. Teacher believed that Hispanic students and poor school was main reason for accusation. ETS believed that those students could not succeed. 33. Escalante became a National Hero….how? Movie Stand and Deliver in 1988, book Escalante: The best teacher in America, Foundation for Advancement in Science and Education provided computers, tutor, scholarships, audio- visual. National Science Foundation provided after school and summer classes. Corporate sponsors: Ford, Coca-cola, Xerox, IBM 34. Problems Escalante faced at Johnson High ethnically diverse, he could not connect with students or parents. No administrative support 35. Escalante received awards for contribution in education, including The Presidential Medal of Excellence, Inducted into National Teachers Hall of Fame 36. The movie about Jaime Escalante, Stand and Deliver introduced millions the philosophy of focused, passionate and controversial teacher led poor students triumph in the AP Calculus Test 37. Escalante became one of the most admire teachers of his time by inspiring students to excel regardless of poor preparation, difficult home situations, inadequate, study habits, drugs, gangs, and daunting obstacles 38. Escalante believed that higher math was the key for good jobs, ticket to leave that bad area into a successful career. 39. Escalante’s program has launched his students to have careers in Electrical Engineering at MIT, Civil Engineering, Math Professor at Arizona State University, Professional Trainer, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Attorney, Exchange Electronic Design for Xerox and Honeywell 40. After Escalante left Garfield, his program was abandoned mainly because narrow-minded people, jealous of his success so they did not want to continue 41. Keys to Escalante achievement GANAS – high expectations, safe and encouraging environment, strong administrative support, time to learn, strong team spirit, flexibility, maintaining standards 42. Escalante’s students gave him a nickname Kemo Sabe that means the man that knows everything 43. Escalante died on March 30th, 2010 of bladder cancer .