Robert John Garmston

Robert J. Garmston is an emeritus professor of educational administration at California State University, Sacramento and an internationally recognized expert in group facilitation and educational leadership. A former classroom teacher, principal, director of instruction, and acting superintendent, he co-developed Cognitive Coaching with Arthur L. Costa and Adaptive Schools with Bruce Wellman, and has worked as an educational consultant and presenter in multiple countries on topics of leadership, learning, and organizational development.

Garmston is the coauthor of Lemons to Lemonade: Resolving Problems in Meetings, Workshops, and PLCs with Diane P. Zimmerman, a guide for educators on managing conflict and improving productivity in group settings. His other published works include Unlocking Group Potential to Improve Schools (with Valerie von Frank) and Cognitive Coaching: A Foundation for Renaissance Schools and Cognitive Coaching: Developing Self-Directed Leaders and Learners (with Arthur L. Costa), as well as articles such as “Reflections of Cognitive Coaching” in Educational Leadership.