Josh Thomases is the founder and CEO of IPsquared, a leadership consulting group committed to helping socially conscious organizations achieve their fullest potential. IPsquared stands alongside visionary leaders to tackle their organizations' most pressing challenges. Prior to founding IPsquared, Josh served as Executive Vice President of the Great Oaks Foundation (2018-2022), a multi-state charter network and Americorps program designed around high dosage tutoring and national service. In 2014, Josh became the Dean of Innovation, Policy & Research at the Bank Street College of Education where he oversaw their innovation portfolio including 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. As Dean, he was invited to be a founding member of Deans for Impact. Beginning in 2004 Josh worked at the NYC Department of Education for a decade, ultimately serving on Chancellor Dennis Walcott’s cabinet. Josh oversaw the opening of 350 new small schools. Nine randomized controlled trials by researchers at MDRC have documented transformative outcomes on high school graduation, college attendance, persistence and completion - particularly for historically underserved students. He later led the city’s transition to the Common Core and spearheaded the k-20 college and career readiness agenda. Josh began his career in 1992 as a founding teacher and leader at El Puente Academy for Peace and Justice in Brooklyn, a nationally known model for community-driven, culturally responsive, education. Josh earned his bachelor’s degree with honors from Wesleyan University and his master’s in educational leadership from Bank Street.
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.