Melissa Perez

Melissa Perez is a Puerto Rican American educator, meditation instructor, and women’s circle facilitator. After a decade in elementary education, a deep spiritual calling led her into the Colorado mountains and to Drala Mountain Center, where she spent several years immersed in Buddhist teachings, meditation practice, and the sacred work of supporting retreats. These experiences have become an integral part of her life, inspiring a heartfelt desire to share the beauty and wisdom of contemplative practice with others.
Today, Melissa teaches first grade in Boulder, Colorado, while pursuing a master’s degree in Teacher Leadership. She brings contemplative practices into her work through mindfulness circles for educators and community-building circles that nurture identity, friendship, and belonging among children. Inspired by the teachings of bodhichitta, she explores how compassion can become a living practice in our everyday relationships and communities.