Jeremiah E. Burke (June 25, 1867 – October 29, 1931) was an American educator who served as superintendent of schools in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

and

Lawrence, Massachusetts Lawrence is a city located in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States, on the Merrimack River. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 89,143. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and Nort ...

Early life

Burke was born on June 25, 1867, in

Frankfort, Maine Frankfort is a town on the Penobscot River estuary in Waldo County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,231 at the 2020 census. History Frankfort is the oldest town on the Penobscot River, first settled in the 1760s by Massachusetts so ...

, to Patrick and Mary (Hughes) Burke. He attended Frankfort public schools and graduated from the

East Maine Conference Seminary The East Maine Conference Seminary was a Methodist seminary and preparatory school in Bucksport, Maine. Located on Wilson Street in Bucksport, it educated students from 1848 to 1933. A building built and used by EMCS, Wilson Hall, is on the Nationa ...

in 1886 and

Colby College Colby College is a private liberal arts college in Waterville, Maine. It was founded in 1813 as the Maine Literary and Theological Institution, then renamed Waterville College after the city where it resides. The donations of Christian philanthr ...

in 1890.

Career

From 1891 to 1893, Burke was superintendent of schools in

Waterville, Maine Waterville is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, Kennebec County, Maine, United States, on the west bank of the Kennebec River. The city is home to Colby College and Thomas College. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census the populatio ...

. He spent a year as superintendent in

Marlborough, Massachusetts Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 41,793 at the 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to high technology industry in the ...

, before moving to the same position in Lawrence, where he oversaw a school system of over 9,000 pupils and 250 teachers. He pushed for the creation of Lawrence's Evening High School and oversaw the city's Normal and Training School for Teachers until it was made a part of the Lowell State Normal School in 1903. In 1904, Burke was appointed to the board of supervisors of

Boston Public Schools Boston Public Schools (BPS) is a school district serving the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest public school district in the state of Massachusetts. Leadership The district is led by a Superintendent, hired by the ...

. In 1906, a regulation change resulted in Burke's title being changed from supervisor to assistant superintendent, although his duties remained the same. Following

George H. Conley George H. Conley (October 11, 1853 – December 20, 1905) was an American educator who served as superintendent of Lowell and Boston Public Schools. Early life Conley was born on October 11, 1853, in Lowell, Massachusetts. He attended Lowell Pub ...

's death in 1905, Burke was considered for the position of superintendent, but Stratton D. Brooks was chosen instead. From 1914 to 1917 he was a member of the

Massachusetts Board of Education The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is the state education agency responsible for interpreting and implementing laws relevant to public education in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Public education in the Commonwe ...

. In 1917 he and Frank Ballou argued for the creation of junior high schools in Boston. In 1918, superintendent Franklin B. Dyer retired and the school committee deadlocked on the choice of his successor, with three of the assistant superintendents - Burke, Frank V. Thompson, and Augustine L. Rafter, receiving votes from the committee members. The stalemate lasted two months and was broken when one of Rafter's supporters agreed to break the deadlock by voting for Thompson. On October 23, 1921, Thompson died suddenly at his home in

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

. On October 31, Burke was made acting superintendent. A week later the school committee voted to appoint him for the rest of Thompson's term. He was appointed to a full six-year term in 1924 and reappointed in 1930. On October 29, 1931, Burke died in his sleep at his home in Dorchester. He was survived by his wife, a son, and a daughter. He was buried in St. Joseph Cemetery. In 1934 the city's new girl's high school was named after Burke.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Jeremiah E. 1867 births 1931 deaths 19th-century American educators 20th-century American educators Boston Public Schools superintendents Catholics from Maine Catholics from Massachusetts Colby College alumni East Maine Conference Seminary alumni Educators from Maine Educators from Massachusetts People from Boston People from Frankfort, Maine Burials at St. Joseph Cemetery (West Roxbury, Massachusetts) School superintendents in Maine