Cecilia Quintanilla

ECE Teacher

Email:
Cecilia_Quintanilla@dpsk12.net

Department(s):
ECE

Cecilia Quintanilla, originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia, is a neurodivergent educator and accomplished musician who relocated to the United States in 2017. 

Cecilia’s musical training began at a prestigious Bolivian institution, and she later honed her skills at the Plurinational Conservatory of Music in La Paz. As a pianist, she has performed with both the Bolivian National Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras. A multi-instrumentalist, she is also proficient in the clarinet, violin, and harp, and has performed with various choirs. Cecilia now serves as Vice President of the Denver Children’s Choir’s Board of Directors.

In her current role, Cecilia is dedicated to fostering a rich learning environment for young students. Beyond the classroom, she actively supports Bryant Webster’s after-school programs, volunteering her time in planning and administration. In May 2022, she published her debut book, This is Who I Am – Este Soy Yo, a bilingual narrative designed to spark conversations around talent and giftedness in young children.

As the founder of Yachay Bolivia for the Neurodivergent, Cecilia is deeply committed to supporting neurodivergent students and their families worldwide through resources and consultation services. Yachay Bolivia is now expanding locally to support neurodivergent Latine families in Northwest Denver.

A strong advocate for gifted and underrepresented students, Cecilia co-chairs the Gifted Education State Advisory Committee and is affiliated with organizations including the Colorado Association for Gifted and Talented, Gifted and Talented Leaders of Color and Allies, and the Latine Educational Advisory Committee. Her work centers on early identification of gifted children and expanding resources within the Latine community.

In recognition of her advocacy, Cecilia received the “Equity and Inclusion Super Star Award” from the Rocky Mountain Early Childhood Conference and Denver’s Early Childhood Council, as well as the Denver Teacher’s Award. In spring 2023, she was also nominated for Colorado Teacher of the Year.

If you would like to learn more about Ms. Cecilia Quintanilla or follow her on social media, please visit https://linktr.ee/ceciliaquintanilla