On Jan. 5, 2022, the students and staff of the high school grieved the loss of a wonderful teacher and mentor, Ms. Genevieve “J” Hutter. Ms. Hutter was born on July 18, 1964 in San Diego, California to parents Jacqueline and John Hutter, Jr. She graduated in 1982 from Goose Creek High School and went on to earn her degree in Mathematics at MidAmerica Nazarene College in 1986. She then attended Sterling College for her certification in speech and theatre. Ms. Hutter started teaching for the District in 1999 at Osage Trail Middle School, starting the speech and drama program. She was in her 22nd year teaching at Fort Osage when she passed. She touched many lives in her time in the district. Senior Emmie Esch believes all the theater kids are honoring her even after she passed.

“She poured everything she had into every show to guarantee that both the actors and the audience had the best experience they could,” Esch said over a Snapchat interview. “She is incredibly missed. I do believe that she would be proud of us though. For everything.”

Ms. Hutter produced over 75 shows, and although she didn’t have much time outside of theater she loved to attend comicons to meet TV personalities. She loved to sight see and people watch as well as just staying home and curling up with her dog. Senior Grant McDaniel thinks Ms. Hutter’s class was the highlight of their day.

“Everyday walking into her classroom and talking to her about what was going on in my life was the highlight of my day,” McDaniel said in a Snapchat Interview. “She was more than a teacher, she was my best friend.”

Ms. Hutter was preceded in death by her mother, Jacquelin. She is survived by her dad, John; sisters, Tommie and Tammie (Brian) Caley; and nephews and grand-nephews. While at Fort Osage, Ms. Hutter got her masters in Educational Technology from Lesley University. Senior Taylor White feels Ms. Hutter made a remarkable impact on the district.

“She made a legacy,” White said in a Snapchat interview. “She helped change the school for the better. She has truly helped me learn my passion. She impacted so many students and their lives moving forward.”

As the curtain falls on Ms. Hutter’s life, the entire district looks back and reminisces on all the good times she brought and all the lives she’s changed. A celebration of her life was held at the high school Performing Arts Center(PAC) on Jan. 16, 2022.