Dreaming of a high school that embodies transformation and hope? Then you’re standing before the Jeremiah E Burke High School. This Dorchester institution has a history as rich and complex as the community it serves. The Jeremiah E Burke High School first opened its doors in 1934. It was named in honor of Jeremiah E. Burke. He was a former superintendent of Boston Public Schools.
Initially, the Jeremiah E Burke High School educated girls in grades nine through eleven. A significant shift occurred in 1972. The Jeremiah E Burke High School became coeducational. The Jeremiah E Burke High School faced challenges. It lost its accreditation in 1996. The city responded. It pledged major investments in facilities and academics. The goal was to regain accreditation by 1998.
The Jeremiah E Burke High School’s story includes the craftsmanship of WPA workers. During the Great Depression, these workers designed the main foyer and offices. Their handmade furniture and carved woodwork added elegance. A carved copy of Washington’s Farewell Address on oak panels stood in the lobby. In 1949, new panels honored women and faculty members who served in WWII. The panels also illustrated the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.
Dr. Dorothea Lyons became headmaster in the late 1950s. She emphasized college preparation. The Jeremiah E Burke High School had rigorous language requirements and admission standards. They were second only to those of Girls’ Latin School.
Perhaps the most celebrated graduate of the Jeremiah E Burke High School is Donna Summer. She was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Dorchester in 1948. Summer grew up in the Mission Hill neighborhood. Before achieving fame as the Queen of Disco, she attended the Jeremiah E Burke High School. She left a few months before graduating to pursue her music career. In 1983, the Jeremiah E Burke High School awarded Summer her high school diploma.
In more recent times, alumni have pushed to rename the Jeremiah E Burke High School. They want to honor Albert D. Holland. He led the Jeremiah E Burke High School from 1982 to 1993. During his tenure, he transformed the Jeremiah E Burke High School. It went from a school with gang activity to one with higher graduation rates. Dropout rates decreased.
Holland is remembered as a coach, mentor, and leader. He is seen as someone who helped the neglected Jeremiah E Burke High School during the busing era. According to Holland, when he became headmaster, the superintendent told him the Jeremiah E Burke High School was at the bottom. He had only one place to go: up.
In April, the Jeremiah E Burke High School’s School Site Council voted to rename the gym. It would become the Dr. Albert Holland Athletic Complex. However, community members felt this was not enough. They wanted the entire school named for Holland. In 2024, the Boston School Committee approved renaming the Jeremiah E Burke High School. It is now the Albert D. Holland High School of Technology.
Holland said he understood the meaning of the African proverb. “It takes a village to raise a child.” He added that the Jeremiah E Burke High School played a major role in determining who he is. He is thankful for the opportunity to impact the lives of young people.
The story of the Jeremiah E Burke High School now transitions into the Albert D. Holland High School of Technology. It reminds us that schools can be transformed by dedicated leaders. They inspire students to dream and communities to come together.