Renee Matzner replaced former Dance P.E. teacher Kristin Atkins this summer as the new head coach of the dance team.

“My goal for the dance team is to create a safe and fun environment for the girls to grow in their gifts as dancers and just to create a bond for the girls,” Matzner said. “I just want them to have a really good time and for their high school experience to have a place that they can go and feel safe and have a good time.”

Matzner said she has been involved with the high school for a few years.

“My daughter was on the dance team. So I volunteered for the first year as assistant coach, and last year I was hired on as assistant coach, and then this year I’m head coach,” Matzner said.

Matzner arrived at Oak Park because of its esteem, and remained here for dance. All three of her children have gone through and graduated from Oak Park schools.

“I did grow up in Agoura, but my husband and I moved to Oak Park because of the school district,” Matzner said. “Our boys, when they were very little, were in private school and we decided to take them out of private school, and because Oak Park is so known for their schools, we moved out.”

Matzner, from an early age, has always been interested in dancing.

“I didn’t start dancing until I was older, like 18, but I’ve always had a passion for it. I used to choreograph things at home, play around,” Matzner said. “I wanted to be a prima ballerina [when I grew up].”

Until adulthood, Matzner’s family circumstances kept her from doing much with dance.

“Growing up, my parents didn’t have a lot of money, so I didn’t really have an opportunity to do much until I was on my own, and so I do feel very blessed to be here among these girls,” Matzner said.

Matzner said she has many other interests outside of school.

“I love rock climbing,” Matzner said. “My daughter had a friend back when she was 7 who had a rock climbing party at Boulderdash, and we tried it out, and it was like, oh my gosh, this is so much fun.”

Matzner said she also has a love for reading.

“I guess because I’m still a kid at heart. I love the Harry Potter books,” Matzner said. “I loved all the Hunger Games. I just go right for the young readers section — they’re fun.”