ASCD Presenter Bio

Arthur Costa

Arthur L. Costa is an Emeritus Professor of Education at California State University, Sacramento and cofounder of the Institute for Habits of Mind in Westport, Connecticut. He has served as a classroom teacher, a curriculum consultant, an assistant superintendent for instruction and as the director of Educational Programs for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. He has made presentations and conducted workshops in all 50 states as well as Mexico, Central and South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Islands of the South Pacific.

Costa has devoted his career to improving education through more thoughtful instruction and assessment. Through his writings, courses, and workshops, he has been a leader in thinking, mindful instruction, and coaching for teachers and administrators.

Active in many professional organizations, Costa served as President of the California Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and was the National President of Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development from 1988 to 1989. He was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Urban Alliance in 2010.