Erin Mote is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of InnovateEDU, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit focused on closing the achievement gap through the development of innovative models and tools that serve, inform, and enhance teaching and learning. In this role, Erin leads the organization and its major projects including technology development, work on data interoperability, an urban-education Fellowship for new educators, support for the growth of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools, and an afterschool program in downtown Brooklyn. She leads the development of Cortex, a next generation learning platform, student information system, and formative assessment engine that supports personalized learning.

Erin is also the co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School. She is a recognized leader in technology, mobile, and broadband and has spent much of her career focused on expanding access to technology in the US and abroad. She has led ground-breaking initiatives, including scaling wireless communications to the developing world, developing strategic technology plans, and work with Intel, Cisco, Google and HP. Erin has served in an advisory capacity to the White House/OSTP’s US Ignite Initiative, the President’s Global Development Innovation Policy, the State Department’s TechCamp program, and the Obama Administration’s intra-agency process for Rio 2.0 and Rio+20. Erin served as the founding Chief of Party for the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance – a $19.5 million global technology expansion project.

Erin served in senior positions with CHF International and Coulter Companies after starting her career in as the Director of External and Strategic Relations for Arizona State University. A recognized leader in alliance building, Erin has facilitated working groups and has served in an advisory capacity for several leading international organizations, including the Clinton Foundation, GSMA, and the Business Center for Civic Leadership at the US Chamber. A recognized leader in technology and development, emerging markets, and public private partnerships, Erin is an Aspen Institute Socrates scholar. She has an MPA from Arizona State and is a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan.

Kate Cochran serves as InnovateEDU's Chief of Staff. She played an integral role in the design and launch process of Brooklyn LAB Charter School, as well as InnovateEDU’s engagements with Next Generation Learning Challenges and Charter School Growth Fund. She supported development, school partnerships, and user testing of Catalyst Literacy, a Common Core-aligned adaptive learning and assessment courseware system, and managed grant reporting to the New York Community Trust. At Design Innovation Factory, Kate supported work with the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop on the Common Core and the design of innovative learning models and tools. Kate has a B.A. from NYU, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. 

Marcos Alcozer is the Program Director for the Data Viz Starter Pack. The Starter Pack is a data visualization library, reporting toolset, and professional development track to help schools get started with looking at data. Previously he was the founding Director of Technology at Intrinsic Schools, a high performing 7 to 12th grade school on the Northwest side of Chicago focusing on blended and personalized learning. At Intrinsic Marcos helped to turn an old lumber yard into a thriving community school with 1:1 technology, a robust data process, and happy teachers and students. Prior to that, he was the Technology Coordinator at Northside College Prep High School, a top-ranking school in Chicago Public Schools. Throughout all of his work with technology and data in schools Marcos has also helped support youth leadership programs in Chicago, and helped to create green spaces in Chicago Public Schools and community sites.

Ancil is excited to be joining the InnovateEDU team as Director of After-school Programs. Ancil joins the team with experience as an After-school Program Director at New York Edge/Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation. Before New York Edge, he began an enrichment program focused on soccer. Prior to serving in these leadership roles, he has a background in accounting and as a soccer coach, which he has played since was 10 years old, and continues to play to this present day.

Eric Butash is the Director of Digital Programs at InnovateEDU where he oversees the digital programs and initiatives including Project Unicorn, Landing Zone, Cortex, and the Data Viz Starter Pack. Prior to joining InnovateEDU, Eric served as Director of Operations at the Highlander Institute, and was responsible for the design, creation, and operations of various information technology systems as related to implementing Highlander’s nationally recognized FUSE model for blended learning.

He also spent 15 years in various technology leadership roles across K-12. He currently serves as the Sr. Advisor to the K12 National Advisory Council on Cybersecurity Executive Board, CommonSense Media National Ambassador and treasurer of RISTE (Rhode Island Society of Technology Educators) Organization. He has worked with RI Department of Education on various statewide initiatives, including Erate 2.0, Wireless Classroom Initiative, Ed-Fi Data Team, and many others.

Eric has a degree from Penn State University and lives in Rhode Island with his wife and two boys.

Julia serves as a Project Associate for Project Unicorn at InnovateEDU. Julia comes from Taylor & Francis where she was an editorial assistant overseeing the publication of humanities monographs for Routledge Research. She also held an acquisitions editorial internship at Columbia University Press where she worked on books on American politics and social studies. Julia has a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics with a minor in literature from The King's College.

Manaswini joins the InnovateEDU team as Data Engineer. Based in Rhode Island, Manaswini works closely with school districts in Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Department of Education on projects related to the Ed-Fi data standard. Before InnovateEDU, Manaswini worked as an application developer and analyst at IBM, where she focused on a data warehousing project that included development, deployment, administration, monitoring, and testing related activities. She has a versatile skill-set with experience in business analysis, relational databases, SQL, ETL, and reporting tools. She has received multiple awards, applauds, and appreciations in her career for my contribution to the projects mentioned above and pursued her masters in Information systems.

Daniel serves as InnovateEDU's Finance & Operations Associate. He has a B.A. in Economics from Brown University, and has a particular passion for nonprofit administration and ensuring that organizations are effectively managed and structured to best serve their mission. Prior to his current role, he was the Manager of Business Development and Operations at the Harmony Program, an arts education nonprofit that provides free intensive musical training to students across New York City. At Harmony, he oversaw new partnerships with various educational and cultural institutions, and also managed all aspects of its daily operations.

Gabrielle Oates serves as an Operations Associate with InnovateEDU. She graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in Communication, specializing in Public Relations. Prior to her current role, she was a Communication Intern with Boston Public Schools, as well as Boston University’s Public Relations department. She is passionate about facilitating the communication and operation needs of educational organizations, in order to promote optimal execution of programs that serve students nationwide.

Briana serves as a Project Associate for Instructional Design at InnovateEDU. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from the University of North Texas and has worked in various creative and educational institutions. Briana's latest endeavor was at the Rubin Museum Art where she created and implemented various workshop materials and planned cultural community events with the School and Family Programs team. With experience in art education and a passion for community engagement, she is intrigued with the development and design of educational platforms. Briana is looking forward to increasing accessible curriculum and convenient/user-friendly web design.