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This Website serves as a tribute to the Pioneering and Technological Visions of
Dr. William M. Brish
Superintendent of Public Schools 1947 – 1973 |
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This Website serves as a tribute to the Pioneering and Technological Visions of
Dr. William M. Brish
Superintendent of Public Schools 1947 – 1973 |
|
 |
Once,
a National leader of pioneering Instructional Television in K-12 school
classrooms - now, the Washington
County school district shows little evidence that a skilled staff of hundreds,
operating
five television studios, for a period of over forty years, created “live, and
videotaped” television
lessons, contributing to the education of thousands of students.
William M. Brish was born September 6, 1906 in Frederick, Maryland. He graduated from Frederick High School in 1924. He received an AB degree from Franklin and Marshall College in 1928, a master’s degree for Teacher’s College, Columbia University in 1932 and a
doctor of Pedagogy degree from Franklin and Marshall in 1956. He did some additional graduate work at George Washington University.
Brish began his career as a history and science teacher at Thurmont and Frederick (MD) High Schools. He subsequently served as principal of Elm Street School in Frederick, Maryland. Prior to his time as superintendent in Washington County, he was the Assistant Superintendent
of Schools for Prince George's County and then Superintendent of Schools in Kent County.
He served as the Superintendent of Schools for Washington County (MD) from 1947 to 1973. During his tenure, the Washington County closed-circuit television program was developed and instituted. Brish became known as an expert in using television for instructional purposes.
As a result of the closed-circuit program, Washington County was selected by the U.S.government to partner with Nigeria’s education system in developing instructional television. Brish was the home base coordinator for the U.S.A.I.D. Modern Aids to Education Project for Nigeria from 1963 to 1969. Dr. Brish also served as a consultant in educational television for All India Radio as a part of a Ford Foundation project (1950-1961) and for several workshops at universities in the United States (1957-1960).
After his retirement from Washington County Schools, Brish was a cluster director(1973-1975) and then consultant for the Appalachian satellite project from 1976 to 1987 (AESP -Appalachian Educational Satellite Project,ACSN - Appalachian Community Service Network). An active member in his community, he served on the boards of the Hagerstown Chamber of Commerce, Washington County Free Library, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Mason-Dixon Council, and Boy Scouts of America.
Dr. Brish left a legacy in Washington County beyond his work as superintendent. As a result of his involvement in developing the Hagerstown Junior College which is now the Hagerstown Community College, the college library is named after him as well as the local planetarium.
William Brish died June 1, 1999.
A Message From Superintendent Brish - 1963
In
August 2006, a 50 th Year Reunion was held in
A
Second Reunion was Held on September 27, 2008.
Contact
us by telephone: Downs Hewitt – 301-582-2837
Nancy Bushey – 301-665-1312
Or
E-mail: Jim Eckel:
mailto:eckel18335@aol.com
This
Website is provided and mastered by
Mr.
Greg Keefer, Retired April 2009 after 36+ years employment of the Publications Department
of
Washington County
,
Greg
is also recognized as the professional Hagerstown Regional weather observer,
owning
and publishing this website.
http://i4weather.net E-Mail Greg: storm@i4weather.net
We
are grateful that he has generously provided host space and invests his time to
produce
“A
Tribute to Dr. William M. Brish –
Educational
Television in
WANTED:
If you have more photos, stories to share or suggestions about this site please email Greg Keefer
Also if you find any mistakes or typos please let me know. Thank You.
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