TELOS ONE DAY ACADEMY
FACULTY + STAFF
MIKE KOLESAR
Director and Co-Founder
Mike Kolesar is the director of TELOS. He is a veteran educator who has taught professionally at all levels from Pre-Kinder through College and has extensive experience teaching adults. He has a degree in education from the University of North Texas. He has taught 3000+ students between the ages of 4 and 16. He is also a conference and seminar speaker, percussion instructor, and he teaches in his local church. His passion is making complex ideas simple, tying them to the Christian worldview, and sharing his love of learning with anyone who will listen. When he isn’t teaching, you can find him in the desert shooting or in his shed playing the drums.
JARED MENDE
FACULTY— Latin, History, Literature
Jared Mende is earning his Bachelor of Liberal Arts for a Double Major in English and American Literature and Philosophy at UTEP and is part of the Liberal Arts Honors Program. He has earned an Associate of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies from EPCC, interned with Dr. Jules Simon (UTEP ) and Dr. Kim Diaz (UTEP), helping them with their local PBS show, Philosophic Dialogues from La Frontera, and is an officer for the Thomistic Institute UTEP Chapter, a club dedicated to exploring Christian philosophy with a focus on the works of Thomas Aquinas. Mr. Mende is working towards an MA or Ph.D. in Literature, Humanities, or Philosophy and hopes to teach at a university someday. His favorite periods of history are the early Church and Medieval periods. He has been married to his wife, Bethany, for over five years and they’ve recently purchased their first home. Bethany is a certified midwife. The two teach Sunday School at Cross of Grace and Mr. Mende has been a team leader for King’s Kids El Paso. They have two dogs, Duckie and Goose. They like to hang out with their pets, drink tea, read, write, and host dinner parties.
ROBERT GUZMAN
FACULTY—Math, Physics
Robert Guzman is a veteran teacher with an extensive background in mathematics and classroom instruction. He has been an invaluable asset to TELOS and his daughter is one of the earliest members of TELOS, formerly CCLT. He will be teaching geometry and an introduction to business math that will culminate in students making a practice pitch of their business ideas, research, and business plans to potential investors.
BETHANY MENDE
FACULTY—Biology
Bethany Mende is an El Paso native with a heart for learning and teaching. She works as a licensed community midwife doing both home and clinic-centered births. She has been the preceptor for several midwifery students and loves guiding students in their learning process. Along with her midwifery certificate, she earned an associate’s degree of biological sciences at EPCC in 2021 and is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and nutrition at UTEP. In her free time, you can find Beth at home drinking tea with her husband, playing fetch with her dogs, or working on a new craft project.
CHERYL KOLESAR
Head of Upper Level and Co-Founder
Cheryl's passion for education is rooted in biblical truth and classical methodology, shaped by her upbringing as a missionary kid in Venezuela. Her teaching journey began at just eleven years old teaching Sunday School in her parent's church in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and she brings extensive experience homeschooling with multiple methodologies, having used most major Christian homeschooling curricula. Well-versed in the Classical Method, she successfully homeschooled all three of her sons from beginning to end, and her eldest, Michael, now teaches Latin for 3-8th grade at Dominion Christian School in Virginia, while her other two sons are living out their passions and callings--Lucas, as a writer who has written six playwrights by the time he was 18. Chase runs his own business, travels all over the world on mission trips, and aspires to become a sound designer. Her oldest son was prepared to excel at Patrick Henry College, one of this country's most prestigious Classical Christian Colleges.
As head of the upper level of Telos Academy, she has taught a variety of subjects including Spanish, Speech and Debate, and World History with genuine enthusiasm and care for each student. With her youngest now graduated, Cheryl has completed the journey of educating her own children and joyfully dedicates her expertise to nurturing the academy family. The most meaningful part of her role is witnessing the beautiful transformation in students' hearts, minds, and lives each year—moments she treasures as precious gifts.
Our academy develops not just knowledgeable students, but virtuous individuals prepared to impact their communities with wisdom and integrity. Cheryl values the partnership with parents as we prepare the next generation to think clearly and engage winsomely with the world.
When not working on TELOS, you can find her exercising, making homemade cinnamon rolls, shooting in the desert with her husband, swing dancing with her sons in the kitchen, or leading her prayer team. Her happy place is traveling to Summit Ministries in Colorado and enjoying high tea at Glen Eyrie Castle. With a warm smile and open heart, Cheryl delights in encouraging everyone she meets.
AMY NORRIS
FACULTY—Culinary Sciences, Emergency Preparedness
Amy Norris is from Cookeville, TN where she earned a teaching degree from TN Tech University before unlearning most of it when she discovered Classical education. Amy has been a homeschool mom for thirteen years, as well as teaching and tutoring hundreds of students around the US, Germany, and China. She enjoys reading, storytelling, and becoming genuinely awestruck by a variety of things.
With her military husband, Ward, and four children, Edward, Emily, Esther, and Emmet, she has moved ten times in twenty years.
SUSAN ZARAGOZA
Head of Elementary
Susan brings a wealth of teaching experience, having guided students from 1st to 12th grade across a wide range of subjects. Her ability to adapt her teaching style to various age groups and learning needs showcases her dedication and versatility as an educator. Whether in the classroom or beyond, Susan combines her deep knowledge of Christian studies and social psychology with her passion for nurturing academic and spiritual growth in her students.
Passionate about sharing the gospel, Susan embraces every opportunity to uplift and encourage those she meets. She is deeply committed to uncovering the God-given treasures within each individual—beginning with her own beloved family. Married to her best friend, she cherishes the life they’ve built together with their three children.
Outside of ministry, Susan finds joy in studying her Bible, staying active, spending quality time with her family, perfecting her fresh green salsa, and immersing herself in a good book.
ELAINE BOBO
Elaine Bobo knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher. As a young child, she sat stuffed animals in a circle and “taught” them. In high school, she taught multiple piano students and assisted in teaching children’s classes at her church. Elaine holds a bachelors degree in communications from Bob Jones University and a masters degree in healthcare policy and management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She spent several years in management and administration in a hospital system, with a focus on staff training and development, and later worked in the consulting and education department of a national healthcare consulting firm. She has also taught college courses for the last 13 years. Elaine has been involved in classical education for many years, homeschooling her daughters, Karis and Azlynn, and teaching middle school at a classical school in El Paso for five years. Elaine loves old books, music, and math. She has been married to Jonathan for 23 years. The Bobos fell in love with El Paso when Jonathan was stationed at Ft. Bliss, and have made El Paso home since 2019. They are active members of Santa Teresa Baptist Church.
LUCAS KOLESAR
FACULTY—Creative Writing
Lucas Kolesar is a TELOS graduate. His passion is creative writing that honors God and touches the hearts and minds of readers. He has studied with Phil Lollar (co-creator of Adventures in Odyssey), Mark Hamby (founder and president of Lamplighter Ministries), and members of the Arise Collective Theatre team. He has been teaching since he was 12 years old. He has written, directed, and produced two full-length dramas, Three Tales of Temptation and The Collective, along with writing and overseeing the collaborative production of the musical, After Jericho, performed in California. He is also known for writing The Cobbler’s Cobblers which was produced by and presented at Lamplighter Ministries’ Summer Guild. When he isn’t writing, you can find Lucas swing dancing, reading, meeting with his writing group, making soap or cinnamon rolls, or doing something else creative.