Jesus Carrera first joined IDEA as an Urban Teachers Fellow during the 2020-2021 school year. He is currently working toward his master's degree in education from Johns Hopkins University. 

Mr. Carrera was inspired to go into the educational field due to the inspiring educators in his own life and through participation in the Bonner Leader Program while at Bates College. The Bonner Leader Program is a highly selective national organization that works to build strong communities and civically engage students in their local communities. While it was challenging to be so far from his hometown of Waco, being able to immerse himself in a new community proved to be a rewarding experience. 

His experiences have shown him the incredible power of community building and creating civically minded leaders through community discussion, self-reflection, and a growth mindset. 

Mr. Carrera has a bachelor’s degree in both mathematics and classical and medieval studies, with a general education concentration in learning and teaching from Bates College. He earned his high school diploma from University High School in Waco, Texas. 

Mr. Carrera’s favorite quote about growth is: “My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”  - Maya Angelou