This Website serves as a tribute to the Pioneering and

Technological Visions of  

 

Dr. William M. Brish  

 

Superintendent of Public Schools 1947 – 1973

Washington County , Maryland

 

 

 

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.  


BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. William M. Brish

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 Hagerstown , Maryland . More than two-hundred former employees attended -- including a number of pioneer employees who kicked-off the Educational Television Project in 1957.

 

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 , Maryland Public Schools.

 

Greg is also recognized as the professional Hagerstown Regional weather observer,

owning and publishing this website. You can check out his weather site at: 

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 Washington County , Maryland Public Schools.”  

 

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.

Webmaster Greg Keefer

 

 

 

NAVIGATION MENUS

 

ITV- HISTORICAL  

TIMELINE 1956 - 2006

PERSONNEL FOR CLOSED CIRCUIT

TELEVISION PROJECT 1958 - 1959

CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION

REPORT 1963

TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS DEPT.

(FROM TEACHERS HANDBOOK 1975)

TELEVISION TEACHERS & STUDIO

PERSONNEL 1959 - 1975

GRAPHIC ARTISTS & PHOTO

TECHNICIANS 1956 - 2000

CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM

DIRECTORY OF EMPLOYEES 1956 - 2000

IN MEMORIUM

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Site as PDF file

ITV PHOTO ALBUM

 

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