Renee was born in Enid, OK, and raised in Bison. She attended Catholic School until she was in 5th grade and moved west of town to Lacey, OK. Her parents, Clarence Vaverka and Ellen Vaverka Price, moved the family to the farm. Renee and her four siblings (Mark Vaverka, Cheryl Taylor, Marla Wingfield, and Todd Vaverka) loved being on the farm. Renee graduated from Hennessey High School in 1974. After graduation, she attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University to become a secretary, which was a two-year program, but she graduated as a teacher! Renee’s first teaching job was at Progressive School near Fairview, a dependent school (meaning they depend on a high school, which was Fairview.
Renee coached 5th-8th girl’s basketball track and taught 2nd and 3rd-grade reading. Later, she taught all subjects in the 3rd and 4th grades. In early 1991, House Bill 1017 came along and closed most dependent schools. So, after 13 years of teaching under her belt, Renee had to start job hunting. After many interviews, someone told her there was an opening in Hennessey. Reluctant at first due to not wanting to move back to her hometown, Renee went to the interview and got the job teaching as an extra 4th-grade teacher. The new principal asked her if she needed anything for her classroom. Renee asked for a computer to average her grades with! She received a TRS 80! The other teachers thought Renee was crazy. She was one of the first teachers to have a computer at Hennessey Schools and always had her grades averaged first! The following year, Renee moved to Hennessey Middle School and taught Math and Social Studies for many years. Finally, she got the opportunity to teach computer apps and keyboarding. Then in 2011 retirement time came and Renee retired from teaching but worked ½ time as teacher trainer and Student Information System Admin. A few years later a Superintendent convinced her to go back and teach 3rd grade full time…since an extra teacher was needed..Renee did that for two years. Since then she went back to ¼ of teacher time being the administrator for SIS. This is Renee’s 47th year in education. In her spare time Renee has done vintage shows, such as Affair of the Heart and Vintage Market days for 18 years. She sells items online on five platforms and Renee works at Lippard Auctions helping with the online auctions and shipping department. Renee is Hennessey United’s beautification flower pot planter. She loves to garden, shop and decorate. Renee also loves to travel frequently with her sister Cheryl to many countries. Renee met her husband Tom Curry when she moved back to Hennessey, she did not know him previously. They have been married for 31 years. Tom and Renee have three Schnauzers they spoil rotten! Renee also for 19 summers ran swimming pools and taught swimming lessons. The Hennessey Country Club pool, The Fairview Town Pool and The Hennessey Town Pool.She worked with three Principals that she had taught swimming lessons to!! Renee always has a smile on her face and a laugh you can’t forget. She is a hard worker, loves her antiques and pink! AAH,Shelley Muzny
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