William M. Brish

William M. Brish was a leader of closed circuit instructional television in public school elementary classrooms.

Brish went to Frederick High School and graduated in 1924. He received an AB degree from Franklin and Marshall College in 1928. He also received a master's degree from Columbia University (Teacher's College) in 1932. Brish received from Franklin and Marshall in 1956 a doctor of Pedagogy degree.He also attended George Washington University for some additional graduate work.

Brish's first job after his schooling was as a history and science teacher at Thurmont and Frederick High Schools in Maryland. His next job was as a principal of Elm Street School in Frederick, Maryland. His job after that was as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools for Prince George's County. His next job was as the Superintendent of Schools in Kent County. His next job was as the Superintendent of Schools for Washington County, Maryland. While there from 1947 to 1973 the Washington County Closed-Circuit Educational Television Project was brought to fruition, that was the first closed circuit instructional television in public school elementary classrooms.

Brish was known as an expert in instructional television for teaching elementary students. He was also director of MD-WVA Appalachian Educational Satellite Program from 1973 to 1975. Another of his jobs he took on was that of educational television consultant of Appalachian Regional Commission and the Learning Channel in Washington, D.C. (1976 - 1987).

He belonged to the local Zion Reformed United Church of Christ where he lived in Hagerstown, Maryland. He died in the same town on June 1, 1999. Brish helped develop the Hagerstown Community College, and the college library is named after him. The William M. Brish Planetarium in Washington County is named in his honor.

• Understanding Yourself and Your World: A Textbook for the Seventh Grade
• A Study of the State of Alaska's Instructional Television Management Procedures
• Growing Up in Frederick in the Early Years of the Twentieth Century: Recollections of an Octogenarian