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He attended Washington and Lee University and attended the University of Virginia to earn a M.Ed., and an Ed.D. He began his teaching career at Varina High School in Henrico County. Afterwards, he taught at St. Christopher ’ s School in Richmond, Virginia, and served as chair of the mathematics department for ten years. He also taught mathematics at the University of Virginia and Virginia Common wealth University. After earning his doctorate, he became a professor at the College of William and Mary, where he taught for 30 years. During this time, he taught mathematics and mathematics edu cation courses including research, testing, and cur riculum development. On retirement, he earned the Professor Emeritus status. During his tenure at the College of William and Mary, he developed test items for several projects at the local and state level, directed several NSF grants, consulted with school divisions statewide, authored numerous articles, and was a senior con sultant to CBS Publications for the mathematics series Mathematics Unlimited. Additionally, he was a grader for the ETS Advanced Placement Program. During the late '80s and early '90s, he was known throughout Virginia for his highly suc cessful Literacy Passport Test materials, used ex tensively throughout the Commonwealth of Virgin ia. These materials, provided data for each child on every standard, enabled a number of districts to dramatically increase their student - passing rate. The conceptual model for these materials is the basis for the Tests for Higher Standards. Dr. Flanagan was the FIRST President of the Vir ginia Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In 1991 he received the 1991 Outstanding College Mathe matics Teacher Award from VCTM. He said, “ Getting an award is always an honor, but getting one from your peers is even more special, ” LaRay Mason, then chairwoman of the Council ’ s Teacher of the Year Committee spoke when Dr. Flanagan received this award. She said, “ Dr. Flanagan's stu dents consistently evaluate him as an outstanding professor in all areas. He remains very knowledge able of subject matter, open to diverse opinion, available for consultation and very effective in

overall teaching. Their comments make it evident Dr. Flanagan is a master teacher of teachers. ”

In March of 2012, Dr. Flanagan generously started providing funds for one teacher, or for a team of teachers to design and fund a project that meets the needs of the students in their classrooms. The Flanagan Grant is managed through VCTM and is awarded yearly, providing resources that are not usually available to classroom teachers.

This grant supports K - 12 educators by offering them a one - year grant worth up to $5,000.

Ena Gross

When reflecting on our formative development as a mathematics teacher, most can point to an individ ual or two who deeply influenced them. Many mathematics teachers in Virginia would point to Dr. Ena Gross. After receiving her Ph.D. from Georgia State Uni versity, Dr. Ena Gross served the VCU School of Education for 34 years as a nationally recognized professor of middle and secondary school math education. At VCU, Dr. Gross was the recipient of numerous School of Education awards for her work (two awards for teaching and one for service) and also received the University ’ s Distinguished Teaching Award, becoming one of a handful of School of Education faculty so honored with the university level of recognition. Dr. Gross ’ passion for excellence in math education was infectious in her classroom. She was dedicated to helping teach ers understand the mathematics they teach, how their students learn mathematics and how to facili tate that learning. She mentored and influenced hundreds of phenomenal Virginia middle and sec ondary math educators.

Dr. Gross ’ s advocacy and passion was evidenced

Virginia Mathematics Teacher vol. 47, no. 2

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