Cooper High School - Mirror Yearbook (Shenandoah, PA)

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OUR SUPERINTENDENT I WY A. J. Ratchford was elected Superintendent of the Shenandoah Public Schools in August 1927. Mr. Ratchford c ame to Shenandoah with an enviable educational and professional background. He was a teacher and principal in the Scranton Public Schools for a pe r io d of six y e ar s and w as elected Superintendent of the Public Schools in Dxmmore, Pennsylvania, in the year 1921. Mr. Ratchford was graduated from East Stroudsburg State Teachers College and received his BA Degree from Susquehanna University. He later attended Penns- ylvania St at e College, Columbia University and New York University from which latter institution he received his Master's Degree, in School Administration.

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Mr. Ratchford entered the Army during World War I and is a charter mem- ber of th e Disabled American Veterans of wh i c h organization he has s e r ve d as Commander and Adjutant. Since assuming the important office of Superintendent of Schools in Shenandoah, Mr. Ratchford has become the best known public official in the community. He in- troduced many modern improvements in the s c h o ol s y s t e m and while primarily interested in the general education of the pupils, he gave much time to the extra- curricular activities. Some of the innovations and improvements made by Mr. Ratchford are the sponsoring and development of Memorial Fieldg the organizing of high school and grade school bands, the introduction of new courses of study in the grades and the high schoolg the organization of the junior high school in the former Main Street School buildingg the combining and remodeling of the former Centre and West Street schools into the Jefferson grade schoolg the building of the present, modern Roos- evelt grade school building under Federal auspicesg the reorganization and expan- sion of the high school and free public libraryg the bringing about of increased State appropriation to the schools, Shenandoah being the first district in the county to be placed in the 60 per cent c l as s for appropriationg the installation of r adio in the high schoolg the introduction of Patrons Dayg the establishment of extension courses for teachersg the introduction of Field Days, Track meets, swimming contest, etc.g the development of skating rinksg the s e c uring of the NYA shopg sponsored the establishment of Girard Park, the organization of Citizenship and Americanization classesg originally started safety patrols in all schools. Mr. Ratchford was chairman of the lo c al Rationing Board during the Second World War. He was the first chairman of the reorganized Red Cross Chapter and was cited by National Red Cross for outstanding work. He had charge of numerous WPA and NYA projects in town. He was chairman of the first government Bond Sale Campaign in the area for which he was cited. He was given outstanding citizenship award by Rotary as contributing most to the c o mm un ity . He is chairman of the Rheumatism and Arthritis Association in Schuylkill County. He is chairman of the