I am the son of Yolanda Ramirez and Rudy Perez. I am the husband of Kim Jansen and father to Tristan, Chase, and Devon. I am the brother of Marla Madrid, Rudy Perez, and Rebecca Perez. My experience is deeply American as a gen X Chicano born in California, raised in Washington State, educated in Idaho and Wyoming, and serving students and families in Louisiana, Texas, and Washington State. My familial connections are central to many of my passions.

When I was just 8 years old, my mother took a courageous step. She escaped the barrio and the domestic violence that had plagued her life for over a decade. She moved us to Washington, hoping to give my siblings and I a future free from the destructive bonds of violence and gang life. My mother's brave daily sacrifices were my inspiration. I ran for class president before my senior year in high school. My primary motivation was the opportunity to thank my mother in my graduation speech. What I didn't anticipate was that becoming class president of Kennewick High School would not only move my mother to tears but would also shape my life forever, leading me to the Washington State Leadership program and a place that felt like a utopia, Cispus Learning Center.

My journey as a teacher began with my little sister, Rebecca, who is blind. I discovered my love for teaching while empowering her to live more independently. I learned how important it was for her to access our world. I taught her practical things like how to tie her shoes and clasp buttons. When I was ten and she was five, I taught her how to ride a bike. At fourteen, I taught her how to print her name. I cut out the alphabet on card stock so she could feel the shape of each letter and then recreate it on paper, never being able to see what she wrote. When I finally got my license at seventeen, I took her to the mall parking lot to teach her how to drive. Many years later while I was in college, we found ourselves stuck in a snow mound on a pass in Idaho. I had to teach her how to drive a stick shift as I pushed, and rocked the car out of the snow. She intuitively felt the pull of the clutch and accelerated like she had done it a hundred times before. I love teaching.

I was living in Germany when I met the love of my life, Kim Jansen, and my stepsons, Tristan, Chase, and Devon. They’ve infused my life with with love, laughter, play, fortitude, and healing. I am blessed to have met them an ocean away from a poor Chicano kid’s beginnings. I am extremely grateful for their support on this journey. I have loved making music, singing loud together, reading, cooking, family games, and playing basketball (and soccer-football).

I am deeply moved by the moments when I see young people discovering their voices and recognize their self-worth. Simultaneously, I feel a profound sense of despair when I think about the pain endured by abused children, the plight of the uncared-for mentally ill and disabled people living on our streets, the hundreds of species that face extinction daily, and the countless victims who have been or are being sexually assaulted. I believe that as complex beings, we can experience both the joy of connection and the pain of destruction in our lives. Life, with all its beauty and challenges, is always worth celebrating. My life's journey has been marked by a deep appreciation for connections, and I believe that we can address complex issues by working together.