North State Parent magazine

Married with no children, Mark is an excellent listener and problem solver. His calm, soft-spoken manner makes him safe and approachable. Eighth grader Corinn Webb says, "Even though he is really busy every day, he always makes time to talk to me." Fellow eighth grader Savannah Walsh says, "Mr. Telles does things with us instead of just sitting in his office. He is easy to talk to through the good times and bad. He is always the first person I want to talk to about an issue, whether it's personal or an issue here at school."

In his commitment to success, Mark utilizes every resource he can muster, especially his time and talents for fundraising and community organizing. Always first to take responsibility for solving problems and first to shower praise for creative solutions, Mark attributes the school's success to the outstanding staff, concerned board, dedicated parents and community.

Mark wasn't always so inspired. Working in the restaurant business twenty years ago, he knew something was missing. Craving a greater sense of purpose, Mark took up his friend John Cunningham's offer to volunteer in a school for at-risk youth. "Mark brought astounding energy and creativity to the work. Using storytelling, poetry and music, Mark taught leadership, responsibility and respect to young gang members without them even realizing they were learning." Today, as a Marriage and Family Counselor, John sends young clients who are not thriving to Castle Rock. "Mark figures out what they need and integrates them. Mark is an amazing gift in the lives of many young people."

Mark prepares students to be successful-in their next steps and as lifelong learners for the unknown challenges they will face. In his Boys' Lodge for 4th through 6th graders, Mark's storytelling initiates discussions about respect, right action, trust, truth and empathy. Since boys learn indirectly about themselves by studying choices made by characters in the stories, Mark says, "I love stories where a character makes a mistake and then figures out a way to correct it." With older boys Mark uses sports to address character issues.

For Mark, character development involves learning about power-how to keep it and use it wisely, or give it away by acting inappropriately. "My goal is to help students understand their power and how their thoughts, feelings, actions and attitude create consequences that they may or may not like." Mark admits, "I don't believe in punishment. I prefer to use mistakes as growth opportunities." Mark helps students learn from experience to achieve greater self-awareness and self-control.

When asked how he stays inspired, Mark replies, "I just love working with these young eager children. It sounds corny, but I love to see the glow in their faces when they have been acknowledged. Every day, when I drive up the canyon from Redding, I look forward to coming around the corner and seeing the Castle Crags. I don't think I'll ever get tired of that."

Writer Kristen Meyer Stroud hopes every school has someone like Mark Telles to be thankful for.