Author and educator, Alexs Pate is also President and CEO of Innocent Technologies and creator of the Innocent Classroom, a program for K–12 educators that aims to transform U.S. public education and end disparities by closing the relationship gap between educators and students of color.  

The Innocent Classroom has partnered with U.S. districts and schools, training more than 7,000 educators and expanding to include early-childhood educators and training for healthcare professionals to build connections with their patients. Pate was named the 2021 Kay Sexton Award winner, an award recognizing his longstanding dedication and outstanding work in fostering books, reading, and literary activity in Minnesota. His published work includes the New York Times bestseller Amistad.