Jean Kuczka, who was killed Oct. 24 in a school shooting, died the same way she lived her life – taking care of others, said those who knew her.
Kuczka, 61, of Dittmer, a health and physical education teacher at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, stepped in front of the school shooter to protect her students, according to reports from those who were in her classroom at the time.
Orlando Harris, 19, a former student at CVPA, shot and killed Kuczka, as well as Alexandria Bell, a 15-year-old CVPA student.
Seven other teenagers were injured during the incident, including four who were shot, two who had abrasions and one who had a fractured ankle.
After police were called to the school, they found Harris and shot him, and he died later at an area hospital.
CVPA dean of arts Manfret McGhee said his son, Anthony McGhee, was in Kuczka’s health class when Harris entered and began shooting.
Anthony reported that Kuczka stepped between the shooter and the students in the class.
The dean said his son was shot in the upper thigh and is recovering.
“I believe, absolutely, that the outcome could have been different if Miss Kuczka was not standing there,” Manfret McGhee said. “I was not shocked. I was not surprised. Just because of how I know Miss Kuczka, that sounds like something she would have done. She would have done everything in her power to protect those students.”
Kuczka’s daughter, Abbey Kuczka, said she heard a similar report.
“She’s the hero,” said Abbey, 27, of De Soto. “That’s my mom. She has always put everyone over her. Her whole life has been dedicated to her kids and teaching, and so it does not surprise me at all. She was our protector, and she was their protector every day she went into that classroom.”
Abbey said it was heartbreaking to hear her mother had been killed.
“You never think it will happen to your family,” Abbey said. “To me, school is supposed to be a safe haven for kids and teachers, and everybody was robbed of that. It’s just really unfair.”
Lifelong educator
Kuczka worked for 20 years at CVPA, a magnet school that is part of the St. Louis Public Schools system, and 38 years as an educator.
“I cannot imagine myself in any other career but teaching,” she said in her biography on the high school’s website. “In high school, I taught swimming lessons at the YMCA. From that point on, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I believe that every child is a unique human being and deserves a chance to learn.”
Manfret McGhee said Kuczka will be greatly missed.
“She was a wonderful soul, and it was always a joy to see her,” he said.
Abbey said the last time she saw her mom was on Oct. 23 when they hiked at Tower Rock Natural Area in Frohna.
“We talked every single day, and we spent time together every single week, whether it was going to try a new restaurant, or shopping or just hanging out at each other’s houses,” she said.
Abbey said her mother was kind, helpful and loving.
“I know that sounds so cliche, but truly that’s who she was,” she said. “She just wanted to be around her family and have everyone smiling and having fun.”
Abbey said some of that fun was had while enjoying “some margaritas and listening to some Jimmy Buffett.”
When she was not teaching or spending time with family, Kuczka also enjoyed cycling or spending time outdoors, “whether it was going on a hike or going on vacation, enjoying the beach or going to Colorado and enjoying the mountains,” Abbey said. “She always said if she won the lottery, she was going to buy a house in Pagosa Springs (Colo.) and retire.”
Abbey said her mother hoped to retire in five years.
Kuczka’s home was filled with Snoopy items and bicycles, Abbey said.
She said her mother also spent time over the past 15 years helping to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, like participating in the JDRF Ride to Cure.
Kuczka and her husband, Steve Kuczka Sr., have five children, and when their son, Joe Kuczka, 30, of St. Louis County, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she got involved with JDRF, Abbey said.
“This year she was planning on going to Amelia Island in December to ride her bike,” Abbey said.
She said people may still donate to the cause through her mother’s fundraising page at jdrf.org. Abbey said she does not know how much money that fundraising page has brought in but believed it was more than $50,000.
Kuczka graduated from Lindbergh High School in 1979 and attended Southwest Missouri State University, now known as Missouri State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education. She began her teaching career at Seven Holy Founders in Affton, according to the school’s website.
She began teaching in St. Louis Public Schools at Carr Lane VPA Middle School in 2002 and transferred to Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in 2008.
Family
Abbey said her father, Steve Kuczka, Sr., and her mother had been married for 39 years and would have celebrated their 40th anniversary on Jan. 8.
Steve is vice president of the Grandview School District Board of Education.
Grandview School District Superintendent Matt Zoph recently issued a written statement offering his condolences.
“Although we never think it will affect us, this time it has struck the Grandview family both in physical proximity and as a blow to us personally,” Zoph said. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the Kuczka family and all of the students, families and educators that were impacted by this senseless tragedy.”
Abbey, the Kuczka’s third child, works in human resources at Pony Bird, a residential care facility for people with profound disabilities that has homes in Mapaville and De Soto.
In addition to Abbey and Joe, a corporal for the Eureka Police Department, Kuczka’s other children include Steve Kuczka Jr., 39, of San Diego; Megan Boeger, 37, of St. Louis County; and Isabelle Kuczka, 21, of Dittmer.
Abbey said she and Isabelle are Grandview High graduates, and Steve Jr., Megan and Joe are Northwest High School graduates.
She said her parents, who moved from south St. Louis to Dittmer in 2007, also have six grandchildren.
“They bought some property in Dittmer and then built their dream house,” she said. “It’s a log home.”
The school shooting
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department received a call at 9:10 a.m. about an active shooter in the school, and officers were on the scene within a couple of minutes, said interim Police Commissioner Michael Sack.
“As kids were fleeing out of the building, (officers) talked to some of the kids who told them that there was a shooter with a long gun,” he said.
Police found and shot Harris, who recently graduated from the school and had no previous criminal history.
Sack said Harris was reported shot and down at 9:25 a.m.
No officers were injured, Sack said.
He said Harris had an AR-15 rifle and more than 600 rounds with him.
After the shooting, police also found a document Harris had written that included plans for the shooting. The note also said he felt alone.
Sack said the school doors were locked, but he would not say how the suspect entered the building.
Funeral services for Kuczka were held Monday, Oct. 31, beginning at the Kutis Affton Chapel and followed with a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Louis.