FOR SCHOOLS & DISTRICTS

Gullah Geechee
Cultural PD &
Assessment Consulting

Research-based, field-validated professional development and assessment audit services for K–12 schools and districts serving dialect-diverse students.

600+

Educators Trained

Over 600 educators across Charleston County School District have completed Encourage Me! — and the data shows.

Request a Proposal Explore Services

Service 1

Encourage Me! Gullah Geechee in the Schools

A professional development sprint for K–12 educators focused on culturally responsive, linguistically informed strategies for supporting Gullah Geechee and dialect-diverse students.

Format
Single-day institute, multi-day workshop series, or district-wide rollout. Virtual or in-person.

Educators Will Leave With

  • Understanding of Gullah Geechee language structure

  • Strategies for distinguishing language difference from language disorder

  • Culturally responsive instructional approaches

  • Practical resources for ongoing implementation

Starting at $8,500

Request a Proposal

Service 2

Dialect-Informed Assessment Audit

A structured review of assessment practices to identify where dialect bias may affect referrals and identification of language disorders.

Format
10–30 day sprint. Remote or hybrid.

Districts & Clinics Receive

  • Review of assessment tools and protocols

  • Analysis of referral patterns

  • Written recommendations

  • Leadership debrief

Starting at $12,000

Request a Consultation
HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER

From Knowledge to Lasting Change

Districts that begin with the Encourage Me! PD Sprint often discover that the next logical step is reviewing their assessment systems. As educators gain a deeper understanding of Gullah Geechee language and dialect diversity, they begin asking whether their evaluation practices reflect that same understanding. Together, these services create a comprehensive, equity-centered approach to professional learning and systemic improvement.

01

PD Sprint

Educate the Team

02

Assessment Audit

Review the Systems

  • Charleston County School District

    Dr. Berry carries the interactive audience along as we follow her on the journey from our own implicit biases to learning about the Gullah Language and heritage to formulating the difference between encouraging and correcting. Teachers learn about ways to provide explicit opportunities for students to code switch during instruction, noting that in the real world, it is their own choice when to do so. Teachers have written more positive comments about this session saying, “Best training I have ever had!” to “I wish I had this 25 years ago!” One teacher even wrote that the training should be mandatory for all staff, as well as all teachers. As we progress in cultural competency training throughout our district, Dr. Berry's session provides an important foundational component for all employees.

  • Patrick Martin

    Dr. Berry is an extraordinary resource in educational consulting. I have attended several of her cultural competency workshops through the Charleston County School District, and she advised my work developing Gullahg Geechee curricula in the secondary English classroom. I have seen Dr. Berry command a room of teachers both in person and on Zoom with her expertise as a linguistics scholar with her personal knowledge of Gullah Geechee culture. In our work, she has both informed and inspired my research. She possesses a wealth of knowledge and a passion for her field. She is without a doubt the best at what she does.

Ready to bring dialect-informed practice to your school or district?

Start with a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your context, timeline, and goals.

BOOK A FREE DISCOVERY CALL