Data Magic: The Official Podcast of Project Unicorn

Join Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU, as she reflects on a decade of leading Project Unicorn and advocating for data interoperability in education. Learn about the major accomplishments, biggest lessons learned, and the roadmap for the next 10 years. As schools reevaluate their technology tools, Erin shares critical insights on what districts and vendors must prioritize to build a sustainable future...

This episode explores how EdTech aligned to clear outcomes and strong implementation can improve student results—featuring insights from the Outcomes-Based Contracting Center (OBC). We unpack how interoperability, structured data practices, and defined measures like dosage bring “data magic” to life—turning fragmented information into clear, actionable insights for educators and providers. Ultimat...

Data Magic returns to continue the conversation about the challenges and opportunities of interoperability in education with Andrea Claver, Project Manager of EDSAFE AI Alliance. Andrea brings years of classroom and district-level experience and leadership on a national initiative to ensure that EdTech entering schools is safe, effective, and truly supports teaching and learning.

From the French classroom to the CTO’s office, Dr. Chantel Manahan has seen firsthand how access to meaningful data can change teaching and learning. In this episode of Data Magic, Chantel shares her journey from pulling 185 paper student files by hand to leading her district’s technology strategy with real-time dashboards, interoperability, and a strong data culture. Her story highlights the powe...

In this episode of Data Magic, we sit down with Steve Smith, Executive Director of Access 4 Learning (A4L), to unpack the critical balance between interoperability, privacy, and security in K-12 education. Drawing on his 27 years of experience as a district CTO and CIO, Steve explains how his experiences in both rural Maine and urban Cambridge have shaped his perspective on student data, highlight...

In this episode of Data Magic, we sit down with Dr. Jeff Carlson, Head of National Education Partnerships at Clever, to explore how APIs, data minimization, and identity management are advancing interoperability in K-12 education. Jeff explains how Clever’s platform helps schools share only the data they intend—eliminating risky practices like emailing spreadsheets—and gives districts fine-grained...

In this episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Ariana Bauer, an experienced product leader in educational technology, to explore how AI and data interoperability are reshaping the future of K-12 education. Ariana shares her perspective on the opportunities and risks of bringing AI into schools, emphasizing the importance of transparency and caution when using free tools that may...

In this illuminating episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Dakota Gordon, CEO of Edlink, to demystify the complex world of data interoperability and integrations in K-12 education.   Dakota shares critical insights on the biggest challenges edtech providers face when connecting their systems with existing school data infrastructure and offers practical solutions to overcome the...

Today, K-12 schools face an overwhelming challenge: independently vetting the countless edtech products available. This massive duplication of effort wastes valuable time for already stretched school leaders. With the surge of new AI tools, this burden is only growing. In this crucial episode of Project Unicorn's Data Magic, we sit down with Tal Havivi, Managing Director at ISTE+ASCD, to reveal a...

In this episode of Data Magic, we sit down with Jenny Bradbury, formerly of Digital Promise, to explore how data interoperability drives student success, especially during the pivotal 9th-grade year. Jenny explains why connected data systems are essential for identifying and supporting students who are on track or at risk of falling behind. We talk about the challenges schools face when data syste...

What happens when education data flows securely, seamlessly, and in real time? Data Magic explores the transformative power of interoperability in K–12 education. Brought to you by Project Unicorn—a national initiative focused on radically improving data interoperability—Data Magic brings you insightful conversations with the leaders shaping the future of student-centered data. From district innov...