Legendary Teacher Jaime Escalante, Immigrant from Bolivia, to Be on U.S. Postage Stamp
The U.S. Postal Service has previewed its new 2016 stamps. One of the new stamps will picture a famous immigrant and previous Immigrant of the Day.
Born in Bolivia, Jaime Escalante was a legendary math teacher of inner city Chicano students at an East Los Angeles high school. Escalante used unconventional methods to inspire his students not only to learn calculus but also to pass Advanced Placement tests in the subject. With his colleagues at Garfield High School, he proved that students judged to be “unteachable” could master even the most difficult subject.
The stamp art features Escalante in a digital illustration that resembles an oil painting. The illustration is based on a 2005 photograph taken by Jaime W. Escalante, in a classroom where his father formerly taught.
Escalante was played by actor Edward James Olmos in the feature film Stand and Deliver.