About The Bright Stars Reading Club
and Enrichment Center

Bright Star CEO Named Top Five Finalist In
National Teacher Of The Year Award
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BRIGHT STARS READING CLUB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization whose mission is to help first, second, and third grade children develop a love and interest for reading in a fun and informal setting. Our organization is not a tutoring or a homework assistance program.

Its founder and director, Terri Norwood, is a strong believer in promoting literacy awareness in young children whenever the opportunity presents itself. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 43% of U.S. 4th graders cannot pass a basic reading test and a Yale University study revealed that 75% of children who read poorly at the end of third grade never become successful readers. Reading is the most important skill young children acquire in school. She is constantly emphasizing the importance of acquiring good reading skills to her students in Inglewood and she thoroughly enjoys exposing her students to various types of literature during read alouds everyday after lunch and requires them to read each night for homework.

Terri Norwood has been enjoying teaching elementary school children for 17 years in The Los Angeles Unified School District and in The Inglewood Unified School District. Mrs. Norwood received a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Business Administration in 1984 from CSU, Long Beach. She received her California Teaching Credential in 1998 from CSU, Dominguez Hills and she was granted a Master's Degree in Education in 2000 also from CSU, Dominguez Hills.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the idea that children should have fun while learning and that they need to be able to relate to whatever subject matter is being taught. Young children, especially, need concrete objects such as props and pictures, to enhance their comprehension levels. The use of role-playing and music are also used when teaching children. Children tend to retain information if it is presented to them in these special ways.

Reading is no different. The children enrolled in the BRIGHT STARS READING CLUB learn to enjoy listening to stories and reading on their own. They learn new vocabulary words and develop their listening and comprehension skills, as well as their oral language skills. The children have a chance to win incentive prizes each Saturday. The children participate in phonics and word games, simple arts and crafts projects and they enjoy educational and entertaining presentations. All activities offered through the BRIGHT STARS READING CLUB are designed to enhance and develop literacy skills in children.

BRIGHT STARS READING CLUB is operated by a staff of dedicated volunteers & an intern, who work under the leadership of the director, and have a genuine interest in working with children. Most of the volunteers are college-bound high school students and college students who have gone through an interview, finger-printing procedure, and a training session.

Ms. Karen E Jones holds the position of Chief Financial Officer with the Bright Stars Reading Club Board of Directors. Karen is a strong advocate of literacy. This love of reading developed during her childhood years. She states "growing up in the City of Compton in the 70's, with very little community resources to keep a young person stimulated, and being the youngest of eight children, allowed me to have a lot of solitude. However, I discovered that I could read a book and the experiences within the pages allowed me to visit anyplace I wanted to go, or become whomever I wanted to be." Karen contributes 17 years of accounting experience, 7 years of financial management, along with 5 years of experience in non-profit financing to the board.

Mrs. Olivette McPherson-Brown
Olivette McPherson-Brown has volunteered with Bright Stars Reading Club since its conception and now has volunteered to fill the recently vacated secretarial position, formally held by Gaylin Munford.

Olivette is an advent reader and creative writer and believes that the enjoyment of reading is nurtured from birth and continues to grow as literacy skills develop. She believes early intervention in school readiness and academic skills helps to foster high literacy skills.

Olivette worked for the County Superintendent of Education for 6 years as a special education teacher and has been with Los Angeles Unified School District for the past 17 years in the field of education. She is currently a Transition Facilitator working with teachers, administrators and preschool/kindergarten age special needs students mainstreamed in the general education population. She began her career with Los Angeles Unified School District as a middle school Social Science teacher and quickly moved into the field of special education. In 1997 she took a position as acting Administrative Assistant Principle at Salvin Special Education Center. She worked in that capacity for one year before taking her current position as a Transition Facilitator.

Olivette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, Los Angeles, a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the same university, a Master of Science degree in Criminal Administration, Special Education and General Education Teacher's Credential, Language Development Specialist, partial completion of Administrative Credential and Masters in Education all from the above mention university.

714 East Manchester Blvd. Inglewood, CA 90301