Chatham County Literacy Council names new executive director and board member

Posted Saturday, March 20, 2010

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Pittsboro, NC - The Chatham County Literacy Council announced a new executive director and new board member. Susan Bridgers of Pittsboro took over the day-to-day operations of the nonprofit agency on March 1. She succeeds Bonnie Bechard, a board member who had served as interim executive director since last year.

Bridgers comes from an online marketing company in Cary, where she has served as director of affiliate relations. She has more than 20 years of management and communications experience in internet search engine business development, documentary film production, newspaper and broadcast operations, and movie advertising and promotion.

"Susan's many talents and organizational skills are great assets to the promotion of literacy in the county," said Joan Greene, president of the CCLC Board of Directors.
Bridgers also is an experienced tutor, working with adult learners here since last year and previously for five years in Northern Virginia. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and communications from Hood College in Frederick, Md. She is working on her master's at North Carolina Central University."

â"Chatham County's need is deep for adult basic literacy and English as a second language literacy. Chatham County Literacy Council aims to answer this need with free tutoring classes to raise the standard of living of our county citizens. We understand that everyone benefits when adults can earn more, increase the tax base and become larger contributors to our social well-being," Bridgers said. "With the support of the council board and our backers, and the time given by tutors and volunteers, we accomplish progress daily. I am gratified to be a part of this significant effort."

Longtime educator Don Lazarus of Chapel Hill joined the CCLC Board of Directors. During his more than 30 years as a teacher and administrator at elementary, middle-school and college levels, Lazarus specialized in reading instruction, curriculum development, testing and assessment. He also worked as an instructional specialist and reading coordinator in Qatar and has worked with students learning English as a second language. Lazarus earned a doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit.