THE UNICORN TEAM
ERIN MOTE | CEO
Erin Mote is the CEO and Founder of InnovateEDU and co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools (LAB). She leads InnovateEDU and its major projects including the development of Cortex, work on data interoperability, an urban education Fellowship to diversify the teacher pipeline, and supports for LAB's growth. Her work spans private sector collaborations and groundbreaking initiatives with Intel, Cisco, Google, and Mozilla, as well as work with leading US government technology partnerships. Erin served as the founding Chief of Party for the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance and has worked on numerous projects with the US Department of State and the White House. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband Eric, her son Robert, and her daughter Clare and bleeds maize and blue as a graduate of the University of Michigan.
TISHA PETERS | Project MANAGER
Tisha Peters serves as Project Manager for Project Unicorn at InnovateEDU, where she leads strategy, partnerships, and operations to advance K–12 data interoperability and equitable data use. With over two decades of experience spanning classroom teaching, statewide initiatives, and EdTech program leadership, Tisha supports a shared vision for unifying the digital ecosystem so educators can spend less time navigating systems and more time supporting every learner.
Her career has been shaped by firsthand experience navigating how data, tools, and policies intersect in the daily realities of schools. Tisha is motivated by work that reduces friction, strengthens alignment, and helps education systems function more coherently. She values collaboration across roles and organizations and believes that education’s most persistent challenges are best addressed collectively.
Grounded in a strong commitment to educational equity, Tisha’s work is guided by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to practical problem-solving. She is passionate about transforming disconnected systems into seamless, learner-focused networks that empower educators and improve outcomes for all students.
Erin Faye Caesar | Project Associate
Erin Faye Caesar is the Project Associate for Project Unicorn at InnovateEDU. Prior to this role she served as a Program Manager to a non-profit combatting food insecurity in Brooklyn, NY. She led programs and initiatives targeting health and wellness, culinary arts, and workforce development within under-resourced neighborhoods. After graduating from St.John’s University, Erin Faye worked as a Donor Relations Associate at Parkinson's Foundation. In this role, she provided front-line support to individual donors, ensuring that their experience was respectful, engaging, and of high quality while fostering trust with long-term donors. Erin is passionate about creating equity for underfunded communities and sectors. Her hope is to create a future where everyone has an equal opportunity for success.
