Reconnect with yourself and return renewed.
As the school year winds down, give yourself the gift of a retreat designed especially for educators—a time to restore your balance and rekindle your inspiration.
Over the course of our time together, you’ll be gently guided through practices that nurture compassion and deepen emotional steadiness—skills that will enrich both your personal life and your work in schools.
Your retreat experience will include:
Daily guided meditation and mindfulness practice
One full day of nourishing, functional silence
Gentle, mindful movement to ease body and mind
Solitary reflection for clarity and insight
Time immersed in the beauty of the natural world
Connection and conversation with fellow educators
This is your space for renewal—no lesson planning, no grading, no pressure to teach mindfulness to students—just time to care for the teacher within.
Come away feeling replenished and ready for whatever comes next.
Participants will receive a certificate for 35 Continuing Education hours.
Eligibility:
Employed full-time in a pre-K-12 school or school district setting
Currently enrolled as a full-time student pursuing a M.Ed.
Professionals working as early childcare providers (ages 0-3) (i.e. licensed day-care professionals, etc.)
Retreat Pricing:
We are committed to making participation in this retreat as affordable as possible for educators. To that end, Drala Mountain Center has reduced standard lodging & meals rates by 50%.
Tuition: Tuition $400 + 4 nights lodging at reduced rate
Register @ https://www.dralamountain.org/program/mre625-mindfulness-for-educators/
Testimonials
“The time I spent in the retreat allowed me to pause and listen to my inner voice. It gave me permission to spend more time on myself, and helped me become aware of my needs, which I had ignored for so long. Since then I have initiated more regular practices to support my emotional and physical health.” ~ Mary H.
“The Educator Retreat had resounding effects on this school year. The spring of last year I hated going to school and was considering early retirement. This year due to the reset and skills learned at the retreat I not only am feeling in a better place this year, I enjoy coming to school. I can laugh off stress and appreciate every day and find reasons to be grateful.” ~ Cynthia S.
“I have been able to develop habits and routines that support me in being more mindful, such as meditation, yoga, journaling, going outside, and even running. I’m much happier professionally as well and while I attribute that mostly to my truly wonderful group of kids, I also think that engaging in mindfulness practices both outside and inside the classroom is part of it!” ~Emma N.
Retreat Faculty
Andra Brill, Ph.D. (she/her) is an education consultant and innovator in the growing field of mindful education. Her work, based on neuroscience, psychology and Buddhist traditions, supports educators and families to create balance and well-being. Before starting her own consulting firm, Andra spent many years as a literacy coach and early literacy specialist in the public schools. She served as senior faculty at Passageworks Institute since 2012 where she helped develop the Transformational Leadership Workshop and the Trainer of Trainers course for SMART in Education, an 8 week mindfulness course based on MBSR. Currently, Andra is the Curriculum and Wellness Director for Bright Mind Enrichment and Schooling and an advisor to Whole School Mindfulness. Andra is a passionate advocate for cultural responsiveness, justice and equity in the communities she supports.
Lisa Vratny-Smith, MSW, E-RYT 200, RYT 500 (she/her) was a School Social Worker in Aurora Public Schools from 1994 to 2024 and launched her wellness and consulting business, Finding the Balance Within, LLC, in 2019. She has been practicing yoga, mindfulness, and meditation since 1994 and teaching since 2002. Lisa most recently served as a Sustainable Wellness Coach in APS combining her social work, yoga, and meditation training to support the development and implementation of mindfulness based wellness programs for staff and students. She leads continuing education courses through the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work Continuing Education and is a Mindfulness Consultant for schools and businesses. Lisa is also a Trained Teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion, a Trainer in the Neurosequential Model in Education, a Reiki Master Teacher, and a Certified Sound Healing Practitioner.