What We Do
Students need instruction that prepares them for the world they are entering.
At 4 Pillars Learning Lab, we support teachers, schools, and districts by providing professional development that drives students to succeed in college, career, and life.
The four Pillars
Collaboration: Working together with purpose
Problem Solving: Discovering solutions strategically
Critical Thinking: Evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing
Communication: Expressing ideas clearly and confidently
The ai partnership
AI acts as a teaching and learning assistant, supporting, not replacing, great instruction. It helps with modeling, feedback, differentiation, and professional planning so the Four Pillars can increase the learning experience for every student.
why it matters
Students are stepping into a world where they will think, write, and solve problems alongside AI every day.
Schools cannot ignore that shift, and students can’t afford to treat AI as a shortcut instead of a thinking partner.
AI isn't the answer;
it's the partner that helps students find their own.
for students
When students use AI as a learning partner, they don’t just get answers, they get better questions. AI can model thinking, prompt reflection, and push them to clarify and extend their ideas.
Collaboration grows as students create with peers and an AI partner.
Problem solving deepens as they test, refine, and compare multiple approaches.
Critical thinking increases as they evaluate AI-generated ideas instead of accepting them at face value.
Communication improves as students revise, rehearse, and present their thinking with support.
for educators & leaders
Teachers are still the heart of great instruction. AI simply gives them more capacity to focus on what matters most: relationships, feedback, and rigorous learning.
AI lightens planning and paperwork so teachers can be present with students.
Instruction becomes more engaging with AI-supported scaffolds, exemplars, and extensions.
Professional learning shifts from “How do I avoid AI?” to “How do I design better learning?”
Together, the Four Pillars and an intentional AI partnership prepare students for college, career, and a future where human judgment and machine intelligence work side by side.
how we help
Educators need support that strengthens student engagement and thinking.
At 4 Pillars Learning Lab, we help schools and districts bring the Four Pillars and an
intentional AI partnership to life through hands-on, practical professional development
that respects teachers’ time and expertise.
Workshops & Keynotes
Engaging, high-energy sessions that give practical strategies for collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, and communication, supported by AI as a learning partner.
professional development
Training for teachers and leaders focused on instructional design, AI-enhanced lesson planning, and integrating the Four Pillars in everyday practice.
curriculum & course design
Support in redesigning units, assessments, and prompts so students collaborate, solve problems, think critically, and communicate effectively, with AI as a partner.
four pillars & ai frameworks
Provide training that will help educators and students incorporate the Four Pillars, as well as integrate AI, with a focus on learning.
Why schools trust 4 pillars learning lab
We have helped educators strengthen instructional clarity, elevate student thinking,
and integrate AI in ways that enhance, not replace, effective teaching.
Stronger Instruction
Teachers report improved student engagement, purposeful problem-solving tasks, and increased student ownership of learning.
Student Growth in the Four Pillars
Schools see improvement in collaboration, communication,
critical thinking, and problem-
solving when AI is used as a
learning partner.
Confident AI Partnership
Educators learn to use AI as an assistant that supports planning, feedback, and differentiation, while improving their practice.
who we are
Dr. david dunn & amelia hadley
co-founders, 4 pillars learning lab
We are educators, leaders, and action researchers who believe students thrive when instruction reinforces both foundational and emerging skills.
Our backgrounds - David as a principal and writing scholar, Amelia as a classroom teacher and AI coach - provide a dual perspective: the realities of daily teaching and the administrative responsibilities that schools and districts need.
Together, we help schools and districts build learning environments where:
Collaboration is intentional, not accidental
Problem solving is modeled and practiced
Critical thinking is visible in student engagement
Communication becomes a source of confidence
AI supports teachers rather than replacing them
Our work is grounded in real classrooms, real challenges, and a shared commitment to preparing students for the world they are entering.
