A Los Angeles teacher, Jaime Escalente, is now a star on the screen as well as in the classroom.
The story of the Garfield High School mathematics teacher, who helped his Hispanic students dramatically improve their scores on standardized tests, has been filmed as “the true story of a modern miracle’’ by Warner Brothers studios.
“Stand and Deliver,’' a motion picture featuring Edward James Olmos as Mr. Escalente, was previewed last week onMarch 11 in New York City.
The film is “90 percent’’ accurate in its portrayal of his teaching and his experiences at Garfield, Mr. Escalente said, adding that Mr. Olmos had worked hard to make his performance authentic.
“He’s wonderful,’' said the teacher. “I don’t know how he managed to imitate me so well. He did his homework.’'
The film, which also features Lou Diamond Phillips, star of last year’s box-office hit, “La Bamba,’' is due for general release in April.
Mr. Escalente will attend a screening of the film in Washington during Easter Week and a ceremony arranged by the Bolivian Embassy. The teacher emigrated from Bolivia in 1964 and has been teaching at Garfield for 14 years.
“Only 14 years,’' he said. “I wish I’d had more time.’'
Oluf M. Davidsen, who has served as president of the American College Testing Program for the past 14 years, plans to retire at the end of August.
Mr. Davidsen previously worked at the University of Wisconsin, where he was assistant registrar and a lecturer in education, and had held the positions of vice president of program operations and executive vice president with A.C.T.
The organization’s board of trustees has appointed a search committee to select his successor.
