History of Penn Manor School District
In his History of Penn Manor Schools, A. Norman Ranck states, “Prior to 1953, the component school districts which today form the Penn Manor School District were Conestoga, Manor, Martic, Millersville, Pequea, and Washington Boro.” During preliminary meetings held between 1948 and 1953 to discuss the eventual consolidation of local schools, many names were suggested for the district. The Name Penn Manor was selected to reflect the area’s history as part of William Penn’s land. Final consolidation of all individual school districts occurred in 1967 when Dr. Elmer Berkebile was appointed as the first Superintendent of Schools. Prior to Dr. Berkebile’s appointment, a supervising principal was in charge of the individual municipal schools and was overseen by a single County Superintendent.
Since the village of Millersville was part of Manor Township until Millersville was incorporated in 1932, the early history of their schools is intertwined.
The following individuals served as supervising principal of Manor Township/Millersville Borough schools:
1921 – 1924 Dr. W. D. Marburger
1924 – 1943 Dr. D. Luke Biemesderfer
1943 – 1967 A. Norman Ranck
The following individuals served as Superintendent of Penn Manor School District:
1967 – 1983 Dr. Elmer Berkebile
1983 – 1996 Noel Taylor
1996 – 2000 Dr. Michael Moskalski
2000 – 2002 Dr. Gary Campbell
2002 – 2009 Donald Stewart
2009 – 2022 Dr. Michael Leichliter
2022-Present Dr. Philip Gale
For more information, visit Penn Manor School District History.