Curtis Varnell

Local Leadership Representing Local Communities Producing Local Results

• Born and reared in Logan County, Arkansas.

• Graduate of ATU with degrees in education, history, and science.

• PhD in Hydrogeology from the University of Arkansas.

• Forty years in k-12 education and now serves as regional science director for GFESC.

• Twenty-six years of teaching and driving a school bus for Paris School District.

• Work experience includes director of the Summer Youth Employment Program for 130 students for eight years, nuclear chemist for ANO for a year, Park Ranger for the Corps of Engineers as well as summer employment at Tysons, Cloyes Gear, and the Small Farms Research Center in Booneville.

• Fulbright Teacher to Japan, Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, Research Experience for Teachers through Duke University, STRIVE teacher fellowship in Agriculture at Texas A/M, Unsung Hero in Education and others.

• Has written over two million dollars in agricultural, historical, and educational grants.

• Author of nine books, three of which are on local history of the River Valley.

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Member or past member of the following organizations

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• Gideon’s International

• National Science Teachers Association

• Arkansas Council of Social Studies Education.

• National Council of Social Studies Teachers.

• Arkansas Science Teachers Association.

• Geological Society of America

• American Geographical Society

Personal Information

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• Father of three children and two stepchildren.

• Former youth director and current member of Harmony Assembly of God.

• Board member of Paris Coal Miners Museum, Logan County Museum, Union School Association, Logan County Arts Center, Logan County Retired Teachers Association, Move the Train Association.

• Directs Science education for 22 school districts and over 1,400 teachers in Western Arkansas.