Willow Glen Resident

Community

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Committed to Youth: Leota Kuzma of Willow Glen is a counselor at Independence High School, where she began as an auto repair teacher in 1977. She was recently honored by her alma mater, San Jose City College, with the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus award. She was recognized during the college's commencement ceremonies.

Educator Kuzma's need for speed turned her in the right direction

By Lynn Crocker

When Leota Kuzma first stepped into the classroom at Independence High School in 1977, the recent college graduate was barely older than her students. There was also a credibility issue. The petite young woman was assigned to teach auto repair to an all-male class. "In the beginning the boys would come into the classroom and ask me, 'Where's the auto shop teacher?' " Kuzma says. "When I would tell them it was me, they would look skeptical, but after I started teaching they could see that I knew what I was talking about."

Kuzma, who grew up in Willow Glen and graduated from Willow Glen High School in 1972, was unsure about her career path after she graduated.

"Two of my sisters were dental hygienists, so I started at San Jose City in the dental assisting program," she says.

While at city college, the self-described speed demon blew up the engine on her Volkswagen a second time. She decided to take an auto shop class.

"I thought it would be helpful if I knew how to work on my own engine," she says. "It ended up that I really liked it."

Two of her auto shop teachers, Stock Cortez and Gene Morgado, took her under their wing and encouraged her to go into the field of auto mechanics.

"They gave me an application for San Jose State and said, 'You are going here,' " she says. "I had tremendous respect for them and their opinions, so I didn't question their direction. They were terrific mentors."

She graduated from San Jose City College in 1975 and enrolled in Jose State University, where she earned a teaching credential in industrial education in 1977.

Kuzma found her calling. Today she continues to lay the groundwork for many of her students who go on to have successful careers as auto mechanics.

"Not all kids are cut out for a four-year university, but they need a good career so they can provide for themselves and their families. Auto mechanics is that career," she says. "I had two twin boys who went on to attend the auto-shop program at Evergreen. They both went to work for dealerships after completing the program and started out almost making more money than I do."

While teaching, Kuzma completed her master's degree in industrial education and in 1998 received a second master's degree in counseling. At that juncture she shifted gears and moved from teacher to counselor.

Kuzma stayed at Independence High School, where she initially counseled students in the freshman class, helping them make the transition into high school. Today she counsels students at all levels.

"Counseling is different than teaching," she says. "With teaching I could look at grades to know how a student was doing, but with counseling my impact is not so easily read. I just hope I am able to say something that makes a difference."

Kuzma says the students she counsels run the gamut and admits she has a strong desire to help the underdog.

"Some kids have been though a lot and have a lot of baggage. Sometimes they share their stories with me, sometimes not," she says. "I am pretty hands-on when it comes to counseling. I lay out the options for each kid. Sometimes I see an immediate change in behavior and that is very rewarding."

Recently Kuzma was given the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus award by San Jose City College. The honor was presented at the June commencement services, where, by coincidence, the Independence High School band was playing.

"It was a real honor to be recognized," says Kuzma, who is still unsure of how her name was thrown in the hat to be considered for the award. "It was a special surprise to have the band there as well."