I recently was honored with the opportunity to present with a friend and colleague at ALAS on the topic of Neurodivergence in the Latiné community, and my guest today is amazing in this sense!

Cecilia Quintanilla, originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia, is an accomplished educator and musician who relocated to the United States in 2017. She currently serves as an Early Childhood Instructor in a Spanish Immersion program at Bryant Webster Dual Language School, under the aegis of Denver Public Schools.

Cecilia received her formative education in music and arts from a prestigious institution in Bolivia, later honing her skills at the Plurinational Conservatory of Music in La Paz. She has had the honor of performing as a pianist with both the Bolivian National Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. A multi-instrumentalist, Cecilia is proficient in the clarinet, violin, and harp, and has been a part of various choirs over the years. She currently holds a board position with the Denver Children's Choir.

In her present role, Cecilia finds enrichment in her leadership responsibilities and from her interaction with her young students. She also volunteers her time in the planning and administration of after-school programs at Bryant Webster. She serves as a founding board member for the forthcoming Be the Change Community School in Commerce City, Colorado.

As an author, Cecilia debuted her book "This is Who I Am - Este soy yo" in May 2022, a bilingual narrative aimed at initiating conversations around talent and giftedness among young children.

Cecilia is deeply committed to supporting neurodivergent students, particularly in Bolivia. To this end, she founded the non-profit organization Yachay Bolivia for the Neurodivergent, providing essential resources and consultation services to students and families in various regions of Bolivia and other Spanish-speaking countries.

A staunch advocate for the recognition and support of gifted but underrepresented students, Cecilia is affiliated with several organizations, including the Colorado Gifted and Talented Association, the Gifted Education State Advisory Committee, Gifted and Talented Leaders of Color and Allies, and the Latine Educational Advisory Committee. Her advocacy work is focused on the early identification of gifted children and on resource provision within the Latine community.

For additional information about Ms. Cecilia Quintanilla, please visit https://linktr.ee/ceciliaquintanilla.

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