NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The pinnacle of the Christian elementary faculty in Nashville who was killed in a taking pictures there on Monday was described by pals as sensible, loving and a uncommon feminine chief inside a male-led spiritual tradition.
“If there was any bother in that faculty, she would run to it, not from it,” Jackie Bailey stated of her pal Katherine Koonce, head of The Covenant Faculty. “She was making an attempt to guard these youngsters … That’s simply what I consider.”
Koonce was considered one of six individuals killed within the taking pictures in Tennessee, together with three 9-year-old youngsters recognized by police as Hallie Scruggs, Evelyn Dieckhaus and William Kinney. Additionally killed have been Cynthia Peak, 61, a substitute instructor, and Mike Hill, 61, a custodian.
Hallie Scruggs was the daughter of Chad Scruggs, the lead pastor on the Covenant Presbyterian Church, in accordance with a press release launched by a Presbyterian Church in Dallas the place the elder Scruggs had served as an affiliate pastor.
“We love the Scruggs household and mourn with them over their treasured daughter Hallie,” Park Cities Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor Mark Davis stated in a press release. “Collectively, we belief within the energy of Christ to attract close to and provides us the consolation and hope we desperately want.”
Cynthia Peak was described as a “candy individual from a candy household” by Chuck Owen, who advised The Related Press in a phone interview that they grew up collectively in Leesville, Louisiana, and that Peak was a lifelong pal.
When he heard that Peak was killed within the taking pictures, “It took my breath away,” Owen stated. “You don’t anticipate one thing like this. It simply took the wind out of me.”
Owen described Peak as “a loving, caring and attentive individual.”
When Owen’s sister handed away, “Cindy received right here as fast as anyone else,” Owen stated. “She received right here very, in a short time to grieve my sister with the remainder of us. It’s a small group, a small tight knit group. She was ever current in my sister’s life and he or she’s been very attentive to my household since my sister handed away.”
Peak was additionally a religious Christian.
“She advised me that she received saved in faculty and that God’s love modified her life,” Owen stated, including it was applicable that she was educating at a Christian faculty.
The Covenant Faculty in Nashville has about 200 college students from preschool via sixth grade, in addition to roughly 50 workers members, in accordance with its web site.
Earlier than Koonce took the highest position with Covenant, Anna Caudill, a former artwork instructor, labored together with her for nearly a decade at Christ Presbyterian Academy, one other Christian faculty within the space linked to a Presbyterian Church in America congregation.
“She was an absolute dynamo and one of many smartest girls I’ll ever know,” stated Caudill, recalling how Koonce excelled at her day job whereas parenting her youngsters, pursuing her masters after which her PhD, and writing a e book.
For Caudill, who grew up in a number of male-led Christian denominations, Koonce had outstanding management expertise and was the primary girl in such a setting to encourage her to continue learning and pursuing her life objectives. When Caudill launched her nonprofit advocating for particular training sources and different help, she stated Koonce was one of many first to donate financially to it.
She stated Koonce cherished her job at Covenant and he or she was cherished by college students and their households.
“She wasn’t Surprise Lady, however I by no means noticed the 2 in the identical place,” she stated.
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Travis Loller contributed to this report. Finley reported from Norfolk, Va.
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