About Safe Driver Drivers Education

Meet the Safe Driver Staff

Mr. Chris Rolwes

Mr. Rolwes teaches the classroom portion of the course and drives with students as needed. He has taught Drivers Education for 20 years and enjoys teaching students a skill that they will be able to use throughout their lives. It is rewarding to be able to teach the basics of driving which hopefully will help build a foundation of safe driving habits for years to come.

Mr. Randy Mathews

Mr. Mathews is a retired teacher, last teaching at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. He substitutes frequently in Cedar Rapids, as well as other area school districts, and currently coaches baseball at Jefferson and football at Harding MS. He enjoys the challenge of teaching drivers ed, having each student not only improve their driving skills but to have them understand the responsibility to be safe, courteous drivers once they attain their license and are driving on their own.

Mr. Brad Tower

Mr. Tower is currently working as a Physical Education teacher and coach in the Iowa City Community School District. This is his 13th year of teaching. He enjoys teaching PE and coaching sports because he likes being active and enjoys having the opportunity to positively impact students' lives. He started teaching Drivers Education (Behind-the-Wheel) last summer and has really enjoyed this also. Getting the opportunity to teach an important life skill to students is very rewarding and allows him to have a positive impact on students also.

Mr. Andrew Tower

Mr. Tower is currently working as a Physical Education teacher and coach at McKinley Middle School. He has taught for many years has just recently started working as a Behind the Wheel Instructor last summer.  He also enjoys teaching this important life skill and having a positive impact on students in this way.

Mr. Max Matthias

Mr. Matthias is currently working as the Building Substitute Teacher at Jefferson High School. Last summer he started working as a Behind the Wheel Instructor.  In addition to teaching, he also officiates baseball and basketball. 

Mr. Marvin Trachta

Mr. Trachta retired from the Cedar Rapids Community School District where he worked as a Drivers Education and Social Studies Teacher for many years.  He typically works now as a Behind the Wheel Instructor in the summer.

Our History

Safe Driver Driver's Education was started in 2009 by Chris Rolwes. Mr. Rolwes is a Social Studies teacher at Jefferson High School and lives in Cedar Rapids. 

Mr. Rolwes has over 29 years of classroom and behind-the-wheel instructional experience.  He serves on the Safety Educators of Iowa Board of Directors and has worked closely with the Iowa Department of Transportation implementing recommended changes to the driver education curriculum.