Thomas Fleming received his master's degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University, where he serves as special assistant to the provost. His dedication to special education has been founded, in part, on his own experiences as a special education student. He began his teaching career more than 30 years ago at the Maxey Boys' Training School in Whitmore Lake, Mich. Earlier, he taught adolescents diagnosed as emotionally disturbed at Pontiac State Hospital and Ypsilanti State Hospital. Between 1969 and 1971, Fleming served as a consultant for the High Scope Educational Research Foundation, an early childhood education research program, in conjunction with the Chicago Public School System. In addition, he has been a teacher of history and government, serving students eligible for special education at the Washtenaw County Juvenile Detention School.

Fleming was selected as the Michigan Teacher of the Year in 1991 and was the National Teacher of the Year in 1992. He holds an honorary doctorate in humane letters degree from the College of Misericordia in Dallas, Penn., and an honorary doctorate in education from Eastern Michigan University. He has also developed a literacy curriculum for application in the home and the community.

Fleming serves on the board of the Institute for Black Family Development and remains active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is also active in the ministry as a preacher and educator. Fleming was honorably discharged after serving four years in the National Guard of Michigan and two years in the Army of the United States, 1949-1955. In the Army he served during the Korean War as combat engineer and was stationed in Germany and France.

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