RJ Curry of Central High Selected for National Award

RJ Curry of Central High is one of only six agricultural educators nationwide to receive the 2020 National Association of Agricultural Educators Outstanding Service Citation Award, presented during the 2020 NAAE Virtual Convention, November 30 through December 4.

The Outstanding Service Citation Award is given to an agricultural educator that has not only dedicated years to NAAE but has also served their state professional development organizations. Curry is the Central High School ag teacher and through the many accomplishments of his program, students, and as a teacher himself, he has shown continuous growth and success within the agricultural education profession. His career has led him to opportunities in and out of the classroom as he has dedicated and demonstrated great service to students and his fellow agricultural educators.

“Throughout my career as an agriculture education teacher and NAAE member, I have provided services in a variety of ways to encourage, reward, and supplement teachers across my state, region, and nation,” Curry said.

As an educator, Curry understands the need for new and frequent resources that can be used in the classroom. Throughout his career, he has been instrumental in the creation and development of many programs that assist his colleagues that are also a part of the Oklahoma Agricultural Education Teachers Association (OAETA). To name a few, Curry has helped to refine the organizations committees, assisted in the creation of the state’s Ag Teacher Children’s Scholarship program for OAETA members, helped to establish the OAETA Ag Teacher

Relief Fund, has served as a mentor for new ag teachers and continues to encourage beginning teachers to become more involved in OAETA and NAAE.

Throughout his personal career success, he was awarded the Central High School Teacher of the Year award in 1998 and was the OAETA Central Area Outstanding Agricultural Teacher in both 2004 and 2008. Curry has also been recognized by the Oklahoma Beef and Pork Councils by receiving the Outstanding Ag Advisor award through both organizations. His students' successes are also shown through his dedication to his career as a teacher. Curry has had 20 students receive scholarships from the National FFA Foundation, 10 students earn scholarships from the Oklahoma Youth Expo and has watched 194 successful state FFA degree recipients and 20 American FFA degree recipients.

Curry is not only a member of NAAE and OAETA, he is also an active member of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technical Education. Through the OAETA, he has served as state president, secretary, and treasurer, has participated as a member of the board of directors for four years and been a committee member for 16 years. He has also attended many NAAE conferences and been a region II voting delegate for 14 years. In addition to his outstanding career as an agricultural educator, Curry has been a member of the Oklahoma Farm Bureau for 40 years, is a volunteer fireman for 15 years, is also a part of the Central High Ag Boosters for the last 42 years and has been a member of the Chisholm Trail Farm Credit Services for 37 years.