Victims of the Covenant School massacre included a 9-year-old who loved to perform and a school leader dedicated to her students

Peak, the substitute teacher who was killed, graduated from Texas Christian University in 1983, a spokesperson for the college said Tuesday. Louisiana state Rep. Charles Anthony Owen grew up in Leesville, Louisiana, with Peak.

The world is “missing a sweet soul who cared about people,” Owen said. “She was a devout follower of the Lord, Jesus. She was very outgoing, but gentle in her faith.”

Koonce, Covenant’s head of school, was described by former students as a champion to all children, whether they faced learning difficulties or were gifted and needed extra challenges. 

Barrett Severance, 33, credited Koonce with helping him to graduate high school. He knew Koonce when she worked at Christ Presbyterian Academy, a small private Christian school he attended in Nashville.

“I was not a great student, so I saw Katherine before school and after school and in the summers in between. She fought for her students oftentimes after we quit fighting for ourselves,” he said. “I definitely credit my graduation date to her not giving up on me.”

Another former student, Robert Gay, also knew Koonce at Christ Presbyterian Academy, which he attended from 2000 to 2006.

“She loved people and students and children and families in a way that she would describe as ‘loving them through God’s eyes,’” he said.

On its Facebook page on Tuesday, The Covenant School said the community is “in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church.” Previous posts show snapshots of students smiling on field trips, performing in Christmas plays and celebrating basketball wins.

Gay said he felt there were still lessons he could learn from Koonce as he processed the news of her death.

“I really want to learn from her spirit of serving people with kindness,” he said, “How can we respond in love and in care for every single member of our Nashville community? I think that’s the best way to honor her memory.” 

Deon Hampton reported from Nashville and Elizabeth Chuck from New York. Marlene Lenthang, Antonio Planas and Daniella Silva in New York and Jake Lubbehusen in Washington contributed reporting.

Article Appeared @https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/victims-covenant-school-massacre-included-9-year-old-loved-perform-sch-rcna76880

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