By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent

At Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, Matthew Butler was recently recognized as Lasallian Educator of the Year – an award that CBA principal R. Ross Fales says is well deserved.

“Matt Butler truly embodies what it means to be a Lasallian educator,” said Fales. “[His] enthusiasm and willingness to ‘do good for others’ is contagious. He builds relationships with his students and selflessly gives much of his own time practicing the behavior he hopes to instill in them.”  

The award is presented annually to a faculty member who exemplifies the ideals of St. John Baptist de La Salle, patron saint of Christian teachers and the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Recipients must have served five years at CBA and be nominated by a faculty member with a letter of recommendation, which is then approved by a committee.

“This award really means a great deal to me,” Butler said. “The first year I started working here The Lasallian Educator of The Year was Tim Sewnig. I held him in such high regard and really tried to emulate his selfless example as an educator and a man of service.”

After working closely with Sewnig for several years, Butler will succeed him as the school’s next director of campus ministry – a position Sewnig has held for nearly 20 years. Butler, meanwhile, has been a teacher and coach at CBA since 2008, and has already been very active in the service component of the school.

 “To be honored next to my outstanding colleagues means more than anything,” he said, noting that being recognized was a complete surprise. “I have watched so many great teachers receive this honor, so I realize that I have work to do … I hope this is just the beginning of my journey as a teacher.”

Until accepting the campus ministry director position, Butler was youth ministry coordinator in St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, as well as the assistant youth ministry coordinator in Holy Cross Parish, Rumson. At CBA he has spearheaded the Montana Service Trip to CBA’s brother school, the De La Salle Blackfeet School, Browning, Montana. Recently Butler chaperoned a trip with a group of 12 CBA students, working at the Blackfeet School for a week.

“Mr. Butler has a unique way of connecting with students, helping them to understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus and Christianity,” Fales reflected. “Our young men can relate to him, they see him as real and down-to-earth. This helps them with their own faith.”

 “His desire to help people is shown through his relentless quest to inspire and help others,” said Jason Lutz, director of marketing and communications for CBA. Butler’s assistance has included organizing trips to Montana, cooking for the hungry in the CBA cafeteria, and delivering food to the needy both on Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as a weekly trip with the school’s Lasallian Youth Group to pass out food in Asbury Park.

“This year one of the Lasallian Youth trips to Asbury Park was cancelled due to a snowstorm, but Mr. Butler did not want the food to go to waste or people who might be expecting our visit to go hungry,” Fales recalled. “He put the food in his own car, drove to Asbury Park and handed it out by himself.” 

Butler believes his experiences with youth both in the classroom and in youth ministry have helped contribute to his receiving the award, as well as his time spent serving others.

“Service makes you step outside of yourself and into the shoes of another,” he explained. “I have always been impressed by people who sacrifice their time and energy for causes greater than themselves… I really learned to be more patient and accepting of kids where they are at and trying to work with them. I believe that all of my service experiences … have made me better at caring for people and their situation.”

Besides the Montana service trip and food distribution, Butler has helped with or started a number of charities at CBA, Fales said, inspiring a large number of students to participate in service. CBA students average 100 service hours by the end of their four high school years, which doubles the required 50 hours needed to graduate.

“He has fostered a number of ‘Box City’ sleep outs, where students stay outside overnight in only a cardboard box so that they can gain at least a small understanding of what it is like to be homeless,” Fales explained. “While a coach, he has partnered with a Special Olympics organization to bring children with special needs to CBA to use the rowing machines and tanks.  He has taken groups of students to visit the Schroth School for kids with severe disabilities on multiple occasions.”

Butler began working with youth in group homes and in juvenile detention as a college student, and found that he had a desire to continue in that vein.

“I really enjoyed the mentor role that I played,” he said. “Some of these kids came from some very difficult backgrounds. I had experienced similar difficulties growing up, so I was very empathetic and wanted to be a positive force in their lives … I try to be the kind of mentor that I needed as a child … one person can truly make a difference in someone’s life.  I hope I can be that someone for my students.”

Butler has continued that mentorship as a CBA athletics coach in crew, wrestling, rugby, weight lifting and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He started the Jiu-Jitsu club team at CBA as a physical activity and confidence-builder for many students who don’t participate in varsity sports.

“CBA students, inspired by Mr. Butler's example, almost fight to be involved and help,” Fales observed. “I believe Matthew’s work ethic, his character and his ability to build relationships and inspire many different types of people exemplify a Lasallian teacher. It is therefore with great excitement that I look forward to him taking the reins of campus ministry.”

And Butler, too, seems excited to take on his new CBA role. He credits his various experiences and his colleagues for equipping him.

“I think being a teacher, coach, service coordinator and working at various churches enabled me to connect different kinds of kids,” he said. “They all have something in common ... Some of the students I have taught are so intelligent that they have made me want to improve and become better … Being so involved with service and ministry … has helped me to become more empathetic, and be that light that the world needs you to be. Without my colleagues at CBA, I would not be the person I am today.”