Jaime Escalante, the mathematics educator who was the inspiration for the film Stand and Deliver as well as the book Escalante: The Best Teacher in America passed recently.  Reason Magazine has an insightful article on the work he did improving the educational opportunities offered to students who would have otherwise been neglected by an often uncaring and inefficient system as well as the way that his revolutionary programs were rolled back and dismantled by administrative indifference and institutional inertia during his life time to a shadow of were during their peak when Escalante worked with a dedicated principle who allowed his programs to blossom.  The LA Times obituary outlines the story of his life well, but given the tough problems facing schools in these difficult times its worth looking at the insightful commentary Reason Magazine offers on his life and work.