Carol A. Tomlinson

Carol Ann Tomlinson's career spans over two decades as a public school teacher, including 12 years as a program administrator of special services for struggling and advanced learners. She was recognized as Virginia’s Teacher of the Year in 1974. Currently, she holds the position of Professor and Chair of Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy at the University of Virginia's Curry School of Education and serves as the Co-Director of the University's Institutes on Academic Diversity. Her dedication to education earned her the Outstanding Professor at Curry School of Education award in 2004 and an All University Teaching Award in 2008. Her professional interests have consistently focused on curriculum and instruction for struggling and advanced learners, effective instruction in heterogeneous settings, and fostering creative and critical thinking in the classroom.

Tomlinson is a prolific writer with contributions to over 200 articles, book chapters, books, and other professional development materials. Among her works published for ASCD are "How to Differentiate Instruction in Mixed Ability Classrooms," "The Differentiated Classroom: Responding to the Needs of All Learners," and "Leadership for Differentiated Schools and Classrooms." Her collaborative projects include "Integrating Differentiated Instruction and Understanding by Design: Connecting Content and Kids" with Jay McTighe, and "The Differentiated School: Making Revolutionary Changes in Teaching and Learning" with Kay Brimijoin and Lane Narvaez. Her influential works on differentiation have been translated into eleven languages, underlining their global impact.

Beyond her writing, Tomlinson is actively engaged in educational consulting both in the U.S. and internationally. She works closely with educators to develop classrooms that effectively respond to the diverse needs of students, promoting environments that are inclusive and adaptable. Her commitment to improving educational practices continues to influence teachers and students around the world.