Literacy Council names new executive director and board member

Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:50:11 +0000
From: chathamliteracy.org
Subject: Literacy Council names new executive director and board member

NewsreleaseContact:
March10, 2010FranMears, 919-933-4145

Literacy Council names new executive director and board member
PITTSBORO – The Chatham County Literacy Council announced a new executive director and new board member onWednesday.
Susan Bridgers of Pittsboro tookover the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit agency on March 1. She succeedsBonnie Bechard, a board member who had served as interim executive directorsince last year.
Bridgers comes from an onlinemarketing company in Cary, where she has served as director of affiliaterelations. She has more than 20 years of management and communicationsexperience in internet search engine business development, documentary filmproduction, newspaper and broadcast operations, and movie advertising andpromotion.
“Susan’s many talents andorganizational skills are great assets to the promotion of literacy in thecounty,†said Joan Greene, president of the CCLC Board of Directors.
Bridgers also is an experiencedtutor, working with adult learners here since last year and previously for fiveyears in Northern Virginia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English andcommunications from Hood College in Frederick, Md. She is working on hermaster’s at North Carolina Central University.
“Chatham County’s need is deep foradult basic literacy and English as a second language literacy. Chatham CountyLiteracy Council aims to answer this need with free tutoring classes to raisethe standard of living of our county citizens. We understand that everyonebenefits when adults can earn more, increase the tax base and become largercontributors to our social well-being,†Bridgers said. “With the support of thecouncil board and our backers, and the time given by tutors and volunteers, weaccomplish progress daily. I am gratified to be a part of this significanteffort.â€
Longtime educator Don Lazarus ofChapel Hill joined the CCLC Board of Directors on Wednesday. During his morethan 30 years as a teacher and administrator at elementary, middle-school andcollege levels, Lazarus specialized in reading instruction, curriculumdevelopment, testing and assessment. He also worked as an instructional specialistand reading coordinator in Qatar and has worked with students learning Englishas a second language. Lazarus earned a doctorate from Wayne State University inDetroit.

Chatham County Literacy Councilhttp://chathamliteracy.org/