David Sousa

Dr. David A. Sousa is an international educational consultant and author of 16 books that offer practical applications of current brain research to enhance educational strategies. As a member of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, he has conducted workshops in hundreds of school districts globally on brain research, instructional skills, and science education across various educational levels from Pre-K to university.

He has presented to over 200,000 educators at national and international conventions of educational organizations and has served as a consultant to regional and local school districts across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. His media appearances include interviews by Matt Lauer on the NBC Today Show and by National Public Radio, discussing the implementation of brain research in educational settings.

His notable publications include "How the Brain Learns," "How the Special Needs Brain Learns," "How the Gifted Brain Learns," "How the Brain Learns to Read," and "How the Brain Learns Mathematics," the latter of which was selected by the Independent Publishers’ Association as one of the best professional development books of 2008. His latest work, "Brainwork: The Neuroscience of How We Lead Others," extends his expertise to leadership in educational contexts. His books have been translated into multiple languages including French, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic.

Dr. Sousa holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Massachusetts State College at Bridgewater, a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in science from Harvard University, and a doctorate from Rutgers University. His extensive teaching experience covers all levels, from junior and senior high school science to university lectures. He has served as a K-12 director of science, a supervisor of instruction, and as superintendent of the New Providence, NJ public schools. Additionally, he has been an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University and a visiting lecturer at Rutgers University.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Sousa taught at the American School of Paris and was a Foreign Service Officer and science advisor at the USA diplomatic missions in Geneva and Vienna. He has edited several science books and published numerous articles in leading educational journals. His past presidency of the National Staff Development Council (now Learning Forward) and his receipt of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Alumni Award and an honorary doctorate from Bridgewater State University, underscore his contributions to educational research and practice.