03/13/2026
Women’s History Month Spotlight:
Shirley Kountze
This Women’s History Month, we are proud to celebrate resident Shirley Kountze, whose lifelong commitment to education, equity, and leadership reflects this year’s theme: “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
Shirley began her career in education in the late 1960s and went on to make history as Medford’s first African American principal, leading the Hervey/Brooks-Hobbs Magnet School for 25 years. Under her leadership, the school expanded programs that fostered multicultural education, bilingual learning, parent engagement, and equal access to opportunity for students across the community.
Throughout her career, Shirley worked to build stronger and more equitable school systems. She contributed to the development of special education resources, racial balance initiatives, and statewide curriculum and assessment programs, and consulted with education departments and school systems across the country. Even after retirement, she continued advising districts on equitable student assignment and family engagement.
Shirley’s work helped create more inclusive, resilient education systems—demonstrating how leadership in education can shape a more sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.
We are honored to have Shirley as part of our community and grateful for the lasting impact she has made. 💙
