By: Rose Schreier '27
Every evening, day students drive down Heartbreak Hill. As the muscle memory of their routine sets in, they prepare for the history readings and cool down from their practices. At the bottom of the hill, Teresa Tellez is a familiar face at the guard gate. Her hair is pinned up in a bun, her uniform is crisp and sleek, and she waves. It’s not an aggressive wave, but it has just enough energy to make you feel seen and cared for. She then smiles and mouths, “Bye-bye!” And with that, any negativity of the day has dissolved. The Cate community has grown such a love for this woman that upon returning from Public Service Night, or an Outdoor trip, students all simultaneously yell, “Hi Teresa!” She represents the boundary between Cate and the rest of the world - a warm familiarity that immediately wraps you up in the Mesa’s tight hug. This interview was an effort to learn more about Teresa’s life, her warm and friendly disposition, and highlight the profound impact she has on the school.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Oxnard and raised my six children there. I have seven grandchildren. I've been married for 35 years. My grandparents were part of the first Oxnard heritage, so it's really nice to keep our roots there.
Who are your kids?
My oldest is Alicia, who is the guard here during the day. And then, I have four boys in between, and my youngest is my daughter, Alexis. My sons are Daniel, Milton, Marco, and Ryan. Daniel lives in Santa Monica, Milton lives in Oxnard, and Marco moved to Texas a little over two years ago. Ryan is currently stationed in Washington.
Who had the biggest influence on you growing up?
I would have to say my mother. She was a single parent, so she taught me to be very strong and not let people tell you what your future should be; that should be a choice of yours. And just always remember that your choices are gonna be a reflection of you and what follows you in the future.
What is the secret to your positivity?
To me, a smile is more than words. And I'm the first person that people see when they come to Cate and one of the last people they see when they leave. So, if I'm an old grumpy person, that's going to leave a down effect on people. My mother always told me I couldn't change the world, but if I just got one person to feel better, then I've made a difference. I used to be in the grocery business, and I used to always train my girls: just remember, you're the last person they're going to see before they leave. So that's the lasting impression that they're going to have of where they are.
Speaking of Cate, can you tell me a little bit about your time in high school and what that was like?
I didn't like the long hours and the tests and the pressure. I actually did independent studies in the later part of my high school years. During that time, I had Alicia when I was one month away from being 18. It was very challenging, but I was already a nanny for another family. I also took care of my younger brothers because my mother was a single parent. That kind of changed things, so I wasn't able to finish it at the time. But I did after 20 years; I got to college and took my GED after my first semester. I'm very grateful that all my children have graduated high school.
What does a typical day look like for you outside of work?
I drive home, and my dog greets me at the door. So I play with her a little bit, and then I just sit down, and I may look at a book. I may find an article that I want to read, and I may listen to music, but I at least take that hour for myself before I get ready to go to bed and just be done for the day.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Country. I just listen to it all. I like Morgan Wallen and Jelly Roll. Every song I hear of his, he makes me cry, because it touches home when you listen to it, and you realize, you're not alone. There are people who are going through the same thing as you everyday.
Why did you start working at Cate?
I came here by accident. I was working for the school district, and we were only there for 10 months a year. I applied through the company, and they said we have the perfect spot for you. And so I came up here, and I wasn't too sure it would work for me because it was very quiet during the summer. But then, the camp started coming, and then I started meeting the residents here. They were just so welcoming and made you feel like you belonged. I met one of my best friends here. She used to work the graveyard [shift]. She passed away a couple of years ago, but she was just one of those people, like a kindred spirit that was your best friend, your sister; you could talk to her about anything, and growing up, I didn't have any sisters, so that was just a God-send to me. She was a grumpy old lady, but she was very passionate about Cate. When I came here, she walked me through the job. I think she was the heart of Cate at the time because she had been here for years. The history of Cate was phenomenal to me. And every person you talk to has a different story. That was one of the things about the older people that were here - Jose Vega, Juan Hernandez. Everybody has a story, and there's a lot of history here that we still don't know about.
Are there any tips you would give students about making your job easier?
No, because I think you guys do a pretty good job for the most part. Everybody signs out like they're supposed to. That was our biggest challenge, just getting everybody to sign out and follow the rules.
What is the most unusual or memorable experience you've had working here?
A paraglider landed on the softball field. It was just like, hey, somebody landed on the field.
Do you have any advice for high school students?
Whatever you gain here and from the people in it, take it with you. Because I've seen so many people leave. But they always come back in some way, shape, or form.
It's true; some magnetic force is at play on the Mesa. It’s a force that doesn’t just naturally appear but has been cultivated over the century since the school was founded. Little things like saying “Hi” to each other in the hallways, sitting in the bleachers at a home game, and how the fog looks when it covers the top of the San Ynez Mountains, all contribute to this gravitational pull we experience. However, people like Teresa Tellez are the foundation this School is built upon - people so effortlessly kind and warm that you cannot help but feel at home at Cate. After all, no matter how trite it may be, Cate is not the stucco and brick of its buildings but the spirit it contains.
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