Thomas Armstrong

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., is an educator, psychologist, and author whose work has influenced how teachers, parents, and policymakers approach human learning and potential. As executive director of the American Institute for Learning and Human Development, Armstrong has worked in education for more than 50 years.

Armstrong is recognized for his advocacy of neurodiversity, strength-based approaches to learning differences, and the application of Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences in educational settings. His career has focused on human development, educational reform, and critiques of conventional labeling practices in psychology and schooling.

Armstrong is known for the book "Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom," which serves as a practical guide for educators applying Gardner's MI theory. The theory proposes that the human mind is composed of eight intelligences—linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic—with a possible ninth, existential. Armstrong's first book on multiple intelligences, "In Their Own Way," and his workshops for teachers have contributed to the widespread adoption of MI theory in education. His book "7 Kinds of Smart" introduced these concepts to a broader audience, while "The Myth of the ADHD Child" challenged mainstream perspectives on attention and behavior in children.

More than 1.5 million copies of Armstrong's books are in print in English, and he is the author of 20 books, including "The Power of Neurodiversity," "Neurodiversity in the Classroom," "The Power of the Adolescent Brain," and "Awakening Genius in the Classroom." His books have been translated into 26 languages. Armstrong has written for Ladies Home Journal, Family Circle, Parenting, and The AMA Journal of Ethics, among other periodicals and journals.

Armstrong has appeared on national and international television and radio programs, including NBC's "The Today Show," "CBS This Morning," CNN, BBC, and Voice of America. Articles featuring his work have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, and numerous other newspapers and magazines. He has delivered more than 1,100 keynotes, workshop presentations, and lectures on six continents in 29 countries and 44 states. Armstrong's clients have included Sesame Street, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the European Council of International Schools, the Republic of Singapore, and several state departments of education. He has received an honorary doctorate from the Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education. Armstrong's work continues to encourage educators to recognize each student as a unique constellation of strengths and intelligences.