Stucky Middle School welcomed its first students in the Fall of 2003. This school bears the name of Dean R. Stucky, a well-known figure in Wichita’s educational scene. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Stucky his mark on the city’s schooling system, focusing on curriculum development, staff support, and fostering diversity.
He was born December 23, 1922, in Monroe, Washington. His parents, Daniel, and Anna, eventually, moved to Elyria, Kansas.
Courtesy: findagrave.com
According to his obituary in the Wichita Eagle on December 30, 2000. He graduated from McPherson High School in 1940 and Bethel College in 1947.
He married Hulda Gaede on December 23, 1950. Their marriage would produce two sons.
He earned a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1952, and a doctorate from KU in 1962.
Stucky was one of a dozen administrators that drafted the original desegregation plan for Wichita. His wife, Hulda, also taught at Southeast High School.
Courtesy: findagrave.com
Starting as a counselor at Wichita High School North, Dr. Stucky climbed the educational ladder, eventually becoming principal of Roosevelt Junior High School. His journey didn’t stop there; he transitioned into school administration, holding the position of deputy superintendent until his retirement in 1988.
Stucky died in December 2000. Hulda joined him 14 years later. They are interred at the First Mennonite Cemetery in Moundridge.
Courtesy: findagrave.com
Stucky Middle School was the result of the $285 million Bond Issue led by Former Superintendent Winston Brooks. Koch Industries donated 40 acres of land, in gratitude, the school’s auditorium still bears the Koch name.
Construction kicked off in 2002 and the school opened in 2003. Originally designed for 600 students, Stucky’s facilities, including the Koch Auditorium and a gym, can hold up to 800 people, allowing for future growth.
In 2006, the school underwent expansion, adding 13 classrooms, two new gymnasiums, and a commons area that serves as the cafeteria. Stucky’s unique layout, featuring three pods dedicated to each grade level’s core classes. An article in the Wichita Eagle on August 26, 2006, said, “Each corridor allows students to move from class to class with peers their own age.”
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