Keynote & Featured Speakers
Wednesday, March 17, 9 AM
“The Human Element: Centering Connection, Compassion, and Pedagogy in the Age of AI”
Erin Mote, CEO, Enterprise Architect, and Global Strategist for Systems Change InnovateEDU
Abstract: As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms educational tools and workflows, the heart of powerful learning remains fundamentally social and relational. While AI offers unprecedented opportunities to personalize learning and streamline administrative burdens, its true potential can only be unlocked when technology is designed to amplify—rather than automate—the human connection between teachers and students.
In this SITE 2027 keynote, Erin Mote explores how teacher preparation programs can lead a human-centered AI transition in education. Drawing on her leadership at InnovateEDU and her pioneering work at the intersection of technology, equity, and practice, Mote shares how educators can leverage AI to deepen student-teacher relationships, foster agency, and protect the empathetic core of learning. Attendees will discover strategies for equipping pre-service and in-service teachers with the frameworks needed to evaluate AI through a pedagogical lens—ensuring technology serves as a bridge to meaningful human connection rather than a wedge.
Bio: Erin Mote is a transformative leader operating at the high-stakes intersection of education, technology, and global policy. As the CEO and Founder of InnovateEDU, she leads the organization’s mission to build uncommon alliances that drive systems change in special education, talent development, and data modernization. An enterprise architect by trade, Erin has not only designed strategy but has also led the development of technology products Erin’s work is anchored in the belief that infrastructure is the backbone of equity. Alongside her husband, Dr. Eric Tucker, she co-founded the Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School, creating a living lab for human-centered innovation. Her leadership of Project Unicorn has redefined how the education sector approaches open standards and data interoperability, while her advocacy for “Safe by Design” principles ensures that the next generation of AI-driven tools remains accountable and effective. Before focusing on the American classroom, Erin established herself as a recognized global leader in mobile and broadband expansion. Her track record of leading ground-breaking initiatives includes:
- International Expansion: Serving as the founding Chief of Party for the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance, a $19.5 million project to scale wireless communications across the developing world.
- Presidential Advisory Roles: Advising the White House/OSTP’s US Ignite Initiative, the Obama Administration’s Global Development Innovation Policy, and the interagency process for Rio+20.
- Diplomatic Innovation: Serving as a lead for the State Department’s TechCamp program and developing national strategic technology plans in collaboration with the world’s leading tech companies.
Strategic Alliances & Board Service
Erin is a master of building high-impact coalitions. She has held senior positions with CHF International and Colter Companies, and she began her career as the Director of External and Strategic Relations for Arizona State University. Today, she lends her expertise to the advisory boards of several leading organizations, including XPRIZE Foundation, Digital Promise, and SXSW EDU Launch.
Visionary for a Human-Centered Future
A proud alumna of the University of Michigan and an Aspen Institute Socrates Scholar, Erin’s leadership style blends technical rigor with an unwavering focus on the learning sciences. From her home base in Scottsdale, she continues to lead national efforts such as National AI Literacy Day and the EDSAFE AI Alliance, ensuring that technology serves as a bridge rather than a barrier to opportunity.
Whether she is launching a State Playbook for EdTech, architecting a Regional Skills-Mapping Engine, or exploring the world’s remote corners with her husband Eric and two kids, Erin Mote remains a relentless force for progress, dedicated to creating a more equitable and innovative world for all.
