Who We Are
Ben DeCarlow - NRC Program Director / Middle & High School Science Teacher
The above picture shows Ben sporting his favorite NRC hat during the 2024 Earth Celebration, which took place on April 17th, 2024.
Photo Credit: BFCS Junior Constantine Martinez
Following substitute teaching in Medford and seven years of full-time teaching assignments in Chiloquin and Hermiston, Ben brought his small school passion and belief in putting students first to our team. He grew up in Medford and has enjoyed camping, hiking, backpacking, and fishing in the Butte Falls area for many years. Now, he loves teaching here and discovering daily what will drive each student to succeed. “Finding what is going to work for our students, that is the goal. There is no fill-in-the-box attitude here.” Ben is also excited to be a facilitator for the statewide Oregon Science Project / Rural Learning Collaborative, an effort to improve science education for Oregon's rural areas.
Additionally Ben devotes much of his time to furthering the programming offerings at the Natural Resource Center, including at least one elective every quarter to involve high school students in the progress and processes of the Natural Resource Center.
PREPARATION: Bachelors from University of Oregon 2009, Masters from Southern Oregon University 2010. Oregon Licensed Teacher and Oregon Licensed School Administrator.
Chris Mathas - Site Development Manager / High School Manufacturing Teacher
Chris spent years as a local contractor working with his hands. His resume reads like a jack of all trades: Shop teacher, manufacturer, school volunteer, welding and mechanical drafting, solar lighting. He learned first-hand the value of experience. As a teacher on special assignment, he shares practical skills with kids as they build, hands on, the school’s innovative Natural Resource Center (NRC). “I have never worked so hard in my life. It is a challenge keeping up with kids. But they give me energy, and it is contagious. They love solving actual problems.” As he teaches, he is quick to explain to all, “If you have a hands-on skill, you have a better chance to help yourself and the world.” Does this teaching philosophy work on kids? One look at the expanding NRC campus will tell you it is unbelievably successful. Make sure to include a visit to the NRC when in Butte Falls and see what motivated students can do.
PREPARATION: Chris has been a licensed contractor in California and Oregon for nearly 40 years. He has built projects for the U.S. Air Force and for the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection. When not building young minds, his firm, Mathas Enterprises, distributes and installs tubular skylights in Oregon and Northern California. Oregon Registered Teacher.
