James D. Gates has earned a national reputation as a math educator.  He is Executive Director Emeritus, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), having served 31 years in this position.  After retirement from the NCTM, he served as Associate Director of the Mathematical Sciences Education Board for the National Research Council; Consultant and Workshop Director for Prentice Hall Publishing; and Consultant for the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and the College Board.

Jim currently serves on the Junior Engineering Technical Society Board of Directors, MATHCOUNTS Foundation Board of Directors, and the Virginia Coalition for Mathematics and Science Board of Directors.

Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Hiram College, a master’s degree in mathematics education from Columbia University, and a doctorate in teacher education from George Washington University.  In addition, he earned fellowships and studied at Purdue University, Case-Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University.

He has taught math at Maple Heights City Schools (Ohio), the University of Virginia, and George Washington University. His professional involvement included service on the Radio Shack National Teacher Awards Advisory Council, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Oral History Task Force, and the Mathematical Association of America’s Committee for the Mathematical Education of Teachers.

Jim has also served on more than a dozen national committees and task forces responsible for the direction of mathematics education, and he has received an even greater number of honors and awards from such esteemed organizations as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).   The Headquarters Building in Reston, Virginia has been named The James D. Gates Building honoring Gates’ long service to the Council (34-years).