St. Louis teacher/coach dies in school shooting

Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience cross country coach Jean Kuczka was killed in a school shooting on October 24.

Kuczka was in her first year coaching the cross country team at St. Louis Public Schools team, which shares a campus with Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. 

Kuczka's St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) webpage says she graduated from Lindbergh High School in 1979. Kuczka earned a field hockey scholarship to Missouri State University, where she and the Bears won the 1979 national title. Kuczka (nee Kirk), was a 4-year letterman for what was then Southwest Missouri State (SMS). The 1979 team had a 28-2-1 record, outscoring their opponents 127-10 on the season. Kuczka and her teammates joined great company as the team was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, in 2010.

Her SLPS page includes her writing about her love of teaching, "I cannot imagine myself in any other career but teaching. 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. I also believe that Health is the most awesome subject in school, because, without your health, you cannot live to your fullest potential. I love teaching Health and Physical Education and guiding students to make wise decisions. Respect is my favorite word!"

After graduation, Kuczka returned to the St. Louis area and began teaching at Seven Holy Founders in Affton. Then, wanting to focus on just teaching older students she moved on to SLPS at Carr Lane Middle School in 2002. Her SLPS page bio adds, "At first, she taught physical education but wanted to pass on her passion for health, so she developed a health program for the middle school. After health became a state-required course for high school, Jean transferred to Central Visual and Performing Arts High School where she has taught Health, Personal Finance, and Physical Education since 2008."

Kuczka is a mother of five and grandmother of seven and lived with her husband in Dittmer, in Jefferson County. Kuczka was a cyclist, riding the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Ride to Cure annually after one of her children was diagnosed with diabetes years ago.

KSDK spoke with a CVPA student who said the attacker shot his way in, through the classroom door which Kuczka had locked after hearing the "shooter in the building alert" phrase announced over the intercom. Multiple reports say Kuczka confronted the shooter after he entered the room, stepping between him and the students, protecting students. After shooting Kuczka, the attacker left classroom with students still in it, while others jumped to safety out of the 2^nd-floor windows. Police responded to the situation quickly, with the attacker being shot and killed, after taking 2 lives and injuring a handful more.

Kuczka's daughter Abbey told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch "My mom loved kids. She loved her students. I know her students looked at her like she was their mom." Abbey added, "Her passion is helping kids." Kuczka also said about her mother, "She loved making a difference, informing students and the younger generation about health and being healthy, and playing sports and working as a team.", according to St. Louis Public Radio. Abbey told the Post-Dispatch "My Mom's a hero," and many others have used that word when talking about Kuczka and her actions.

Kuczka's coach at Missouri State, Rhonda Ridinger, echoed that sentiment. She told Springfield's KY3 that Kuczka was a hero and "I think she did what a loving seasoned teacher would do, protect the kids." She added "Today hurt everybody, and we were shocked."

Kuczka was in her first season as head coach of the girls' cross country team at SLPS' Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience. Her fellow PE and Health teacher and Collegiate School of Med-Bioscience Athletic Director Heather Kristof said in an email, "She was the most dedicated, approachable, caring, and funny person. When our school moved into the building last year, she was so kind and accommodating to me and helped me get situated in a new building. She was so easy to work with and always willing to help with anything."

The Owls are scheduled to race in the Class 4 District 1 cross country meet in Arnold Saturday. The school has eight ladies entered in the meet. They will run with heavy hearts for their hero coach.  

Kuczka's obituary says those wishing to make contributions can do so at Jean's JDRF fundraising page or to venmo@thekuczkafamily.