The Third Battle of Manassas: Managing Change and Growth in a Suburban Virginia School District Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia 1973-1977. Este artículo no está disponible.The Third Battle of Manassas: Managing Change and Growth in a Suburban Virginia School District Manassas, Prince William County, Virginia 1973-1977

Milton L. Snyder, Ph.D., served Prince William County, Virginia — as Division Superintendent of Schools from 1973 to 1977 — during a period of dynamic population growth and political upheaval which impacted both the governance and management of the school system. Upon arrival in 1973 he stresses to the news media that he is coming to the county with a completely open mind and looking forward to creating conditions in the school system for community involvement. In these essays he shares his recollections of the activities, successes, and sometimes failures of leaders in the county during this formative period, and the impact of their actions on the school system. These are his individual views concerning the various actions of the school board, the county board of supervisors, and others associated with the schools and with the county government during the years he served as superintendent of schools. The accomplishments of teachers, district administrators and school board members during this period prompted the writing of these essays. Included are local newspaper articles and opinion pieces that covered events, along with research letters and other pertinent materials. Out of his cauldron of experience, he learns that it is easy to criticize people in charge. It is much harder to be the person in charge.

Snyder, who was born in Weippe, Idaho in 1929, spent his early life on the farm and his education changed the course of his life. Following the death of his father, Milton Cooper Snyder, he moved to Lewiston, Idaho, graduating from Lewiston High School in 1947. He then received a BA in 1951 from Lewis Clark State College, known then as Northern Idaho College of Education. Service in the Korean War, 1951-1952, interrupted Milton’s educational plans, but following the war he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Washington, followed by a Ph.D. in 1973 from United States International University, known now as Alliant International University in San Diego, California. Milton has had a long career in education, serving as teacher and principal in Sunnyside and Richland, Washington; Superintendent of Schools for Anacortes, Marysville, and Federal Way School Districts in Washington State; Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Oakland, California; and Division Superintendent for Prince William County, Virginia School District in Manassas, Virginia. He also served as Deputy Executive Director for the American Association of School Administrators in Arlington, Virginia. During his work in Virginia as superintendent, he taught graduate courses in educational administration as Adjunct Professor for the University of Virginia and (VPI) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University at their northern Virginia centers. He continues to work for several educational technology firms from his home office in Washington state. Milton Lee Pritchard Snyder Ph.D., is a direct descendant of grandparents John Wesley Snyder, Mary Elizabeth Cooper, Walter Icen Pritchard and Jesse Lee Jordan—all born in the State of West Virginia. Three of his grandparents moved to the State of Idaho in the 1890s and early 1900s, while one, Walter Icen Pritchard remained in the Buchannon and Weston area much of his life.