Lanier Learning is dedicated to co-designing equitable learning experiences for school leaders, staff, and students. Lanier Learning also partners with non-profit and for-profit corporations that are committed to community good.
Embedded Files
Dee Lanier is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of Lanier Learning, LLC, where he serves as a sought-after consultant dedicated to driving systemic impact across educational and organizational landscapes. With a robust background in sociology and over two decades of leadership as an educator, Dee utilizes equity-focused design thinking strategies and modern technology training to cultivate deeply collaborative, future-ready learning spaces.
Dee is the author of Demarginalizing Design, co-author of The Promises and Perils of AI in Education, and the creator of Solve in Time!®—a gamified design thinking framework used globally to tackle complex challenges. As a champion for community-led innovation, his consulting work empowers leaders, educators, and students to navigate technological shifts while anchoring their practices in human-centered design. When he isn't guiding organizations through transformative growth, Dee practices self-care by reading, playing percussion, and roasting, brewing, and sharing exceptional coffee.
Contact for coaching or consultation:
Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
🚨✨ Navigating the Emergent and Urgent Realities of AI
🚨✨ Navigating the Emergent and Urgent Realities of AI
AI's impact transcends the classroom—it is reshaping administrative, corporate, and systemic landscapes. This session, designed for K-12 and Higher Ed leaders and faculty, broadens the lens of AI from individual student work to institutional policy. Grounded in the insights of The Promises and Perils of AI in Education, we will critically examine the ethical obligations inherent in this new technology. You will participate in a mind-shift activity that frames AI not just as a tool, but as a critical lever for Equity and Ethics.
👁️📐 Demarginalizing Design in the Age of AI
👁️📐 Demarginalizing Design in the Age of AI
Ethical Foresight for the Next Generation of Learning
Are you ready to move past the panic button and into the promise? This session, led by author Dee Lanier, challenges K-12 and Higher Ed faculty to engage with AI not as a threat, but as an urgent opportunity to rebuild our educational systems with equity and design justice at the core. Drawing on the frameworks in The Promises and Perils of AI in Education and Demarginalizing Design, we will confront the emergent realities of AI's societal and educational impact—from classrooms to administrative cabinets. You will learn to use the 4P's of Prompt Engineering (Perspective, Purpose, Parameters, Polish) to move from passive user to ethical architect. Walk away with practical strategies aligned to the Solve in Time! goals (Prevent, Correct, Improve, Excel) to ensure your integration of AI doesn't perpetuate bias, but instead creates liberated learning experiences. This is not a talk about if you should use AI, but how you must use it to ensure every student is seen and served.
🎤👨🏾🎓 Lessons Learned from My Hip Hop Heroes
🎤👨🏾🎓 Lessons Learned from My Hip Hop Heroes
What can a legendary voice of the culture teach K-12 educators about instructional excellence? Everything. Join Lead Experience Designer Dee Lanier in this high-energy, 50-minute keynote as we explore the foundational elements of artistry—Passion, Purpose, and Persistence—and how they directly map to impactful, equitable pedagogy. Using powerful examples from Hip Hop heroes, we will uncover strategies for creating a learning environment that is Culturally Relevant, Responsive, and Responsible for every student. It's time to channel your inner hero, embrace your teaching purpose, and parasail past the obstacles that stand in the way of truly dynamic learning.
☕✍🏽 Pedagogy, Pourover, and Poetry
☕✍🏽 Pedagogy, Pourover, and Poetry
Think of this as an alternative to a traditional keynote or large group discussion, and more like a coffee house poetry slam and informal conversation about formalities and consternation in education.
This concept is still brewing, but here's a taste:
If you gave me a choice board / I'm choosing pour over brew every time / cold brew is too mellow and not complex enough / French press is full of sediment / and my sentiment being too filter out/ all of the harshness in my cup / automatic brewers are rejected / k cups disposed of/ Americanos are good but remind me of what my Grandfather missed out on the only problem / which is math / is affording all this stuff / but thank you for the option / instead of a worksheet
Workshop Facilitator
Workshop Facilitator
Utilizing an educational problem-solving process that emphasizes tackling challenges under time constraints we will identify and rapidly protype solutions to real-world problems. This structured approach fosters the 4Cs—critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration—by guiding participants through its design thinking framework.
Culturally Responsive Teaching in Intercultural Contexts
Instructional Coaches and Classroom Teachers: stop using AI to simply automate the old way of doing things. In this highly engaging session, we will focus on designing culturally affirming instruction using generative AI. We'll explore practical "Equity Prompts" that coaches can use with their teachers, and teachers can use with their students, to diversify curricula, translate content for accessibility, and create learning experiences that genuinely reflect the lived realities of all learners. Get ready to activate your role as a Liberated Educator in the age of AI.
Join us for a transformative workshop where we'll delve into the ethical and equitable implications of AI in education. Through a collaborative design thinking process, participants will explore the potential benefits and challenges of AI integration and develop innovative solutions to address critical issues.
This session will equip participants with practical tools to create culturally responsive and equitable learning experiences. We will explore how to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom while respecting and affirming students' diverse backgrounds. This beginner to intermediate session is designed for educators of all grade levels and content areas who utilize English Language Arts.
Using hip hop as a cultural lens, this session will explore critical ethical questions surrounding the development and use of artificial intelligence. We will delve into the complex relationship between technology and society, examining the potential impacts of synthetic AI on individuals and communities.
Mastering AI Image Generation for Visual Storytelling
This dynamic, hands-on workshop dives deep into the art of Prompt Engineering—the essential skill for high-quality, targeted image generation. We'll move from basic commands to strategic prompting using Context, Setting, and Details to achieve clear, concise, and unambiguous results. You will leave with practical skills in using AI tools (like Adobe Firefly and Canva) and applying Visual Storytelling Essentials (Composition, Color, Perspective) to craft powerful narratives for any K-12 or higher education lesson.
AI and Christian Ethics
How can the wisdom of Tertullian, Athanasius, and Augustine guide your institution's approach to Large Language Models? For faculty and administrators at institutions like the Archdiocese of DC and St. John's, this workshop connects the dots between centuries-old theological principles and today’s most complex digital challenges. We’ll explore the deep philosophical questions of AI creation, bias, and human dignity, translating these ancient ethical mandates into practical institutional policies and classroom conversations. Be prepared to challenge your assumptions and learn how to proactively shape a faith-centered digital environment where equity is the ultimate design element.
Principles for Productivity: Prompt Engineering to Reclaim Your Time
Stop writing, start leading. In this high-velocity workshop, Lead Experience Designer Dee Lanier moves beyond generic AI concepts and dives straight into the most powerful productivity hack for K-12 leaders: prompt engineering. Learn the three-part (3P) framework to instantly upgrade every prompt you write, transforming raw data into actionable analysis and strategy. You will walk away with the blueprint for creating your own "Admin Clone"—a custom AI assistant that automatically handles routine, policy-bound communication (like staff announcements, parent talking points, and policy summaries) with professional consistency. It's time to design your workflow with maximum intention and focus your energy on what matters most.
Experience Designer
Experience Designer
Contact for coaching or consultation:
Report abuse