Born: Unknown, United States (assumed)
Died: Unknown
Country most active: United States
Also known as: NA
The following is republished with permission from the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
The Jeremiah E. Burke School, which opened in 1934 as an all-girls institution, became coeducational in 1972. One of its most notable alumni is Grammy-winning singer Donna Summer (1948-2012).
Dr. Dorothea Lyons was appointed headmaster in the late 1950s. Determined to carry on a tradition of academic excellence, she focused on college prep with language requirements and rigorous admission standards second only to those of Girls’ Latin School. The Burke enrolled only girls until 1972 when it became coeducational. In 2024, the Boston School Committee was presented with a proposal from alumni and members of the community to rename the Burke the Dr. Albert D. Holland High School of Technology in honor of the principal who helped turn the failing school around during the 1980s.