The entry point to the work of equity and organizational improvement is figuring out how to activate our individual and collective potential. IPsquared exists to help organizations move purposefully down that path.
Josh and his family participated in One Million Talks, a film directed by Academy Award-Nominee, Kevin Wilson, Jr., featuring the reflections of anti-racism expert and executive curator of WE ARE, Dr. Ronda Taylor-Bullock. Watch the video.
IPsquared is led by Josh Thomases. He leads our work with each partner and brings in key colleagues as necessary aligned to the personalized plan with each partner.
In 30 years in public service, Josh has worked extensively with front-line staff, educators and leaders to build reflective, equitable organizations. Josh began his career as a founding teacher at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice in Brooklyn, a nationally known model for community-driven, culturally responsive, education. He worked at the NYC Department of Education for nearly a decade, ultimately serving on Chancellor Dennis Walcott’s cabinet. Josh oversaw the opening of 350 new small schools; led the city’s transition to the Common Core; and spearheaded the k-20 college and career readiness agenda for the city. He was the Dean of Innovation, Policy & Research at the Bank Street College of Education where he oversaw their community programs, launched the Center for Culture, Race and Equity and a national policy institute called Prepared to Teach, focused on transforming the teacher ecosystem in the United States. Most recently, Josh was the Executive Vice President of the Great Oaks Foundation, a multi-state charter network designed around high dosage tutoring and national service.
Josh lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two adolescent sons who keep him deeply grounded. Beyond work, parenting, and social justice, Josh coaches baseball, loves the outdoors, and walks his very scruffy dog.
Contact Josh at Josh@IPsquared.org.
Contributors
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Hector Calderón
For over 30 years, Hector has been a dedicated educator, coach, and activist working to create liberatory spaces where people can become fully human in body, mind, spirit, and community. He is a skilled racial justice facilitator who has worked with hundreds of education leaders, activists and some celebrities to create a more just world.
Hector serves as the Chief Equity Officer for the Great Oaks Foundation. Hector is also the co-founder and former Principal of El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice, the first human rights high school in the nation and a nationally recognized model for culturally responsive, racially equitable, and community-driven education. Hector served a member of President Obama’s White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanic Students which later became the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. He currently is a member of New York’s My Brother’s Keeper Blue Ribbon Committee. He received the Ted Sizer fellowship for distinguished school leadership and the “El” award from El Diario for the 25 most influential Latinos in the Tri-state area. Hector is a graduate of Long Island University and a member of the inaugural class of New Leaders for New Schools. He lives in Queens with his family which sits on the land of the Lenape Nation.
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Tresa Elguera
Tresa is an organizer and teacher who believes that supportive relationships, play and community are critical elements in creating a just world for everyone. She has been in and around schools for over two decades, as an organizer for Latinx Youth and families, as a Bilingual Teacher in Dual Language Classrooms, a high school Spanish teacher and a staff developer.
Tresa received a fellowship to study the use of improvisation in the classroom. She views play as a critical factor in human development - for everyone, not just children - and sees games that allow groups to laugh together as an essential element of any training. She also emphasizes the use of listening partnerships as a regular practice, supporting both the development of healthy relationships, emotions and critical skills. She holds a B.A. in Race, Class and Gender Issues through Literature, History and Law, from Hampshire College and an M.Ed. in Bilingual Education from Bank Street. Tresa lives in Brooklyn with her family.
