Bringing it Forward
Embracing our Neurodiversity
Meet Us
Bringing it Forward Co-Founders
We are two passionate educators with an insatiable drive to push boundaries beyond the status quo to create room for a better reality and future for ALL those around us. "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Get to know us through the words and perspectives of those who have worked with us.
Graciela Livas
"...to have a vision of what is lacking in a school and then develop programs with no internal or external resources or guidance, is an incredible achievement."
"...and, in all honesty, I haven’t seen a
program quite like it anywhere else in my international teaching experience."
"Despite the fact that she works with many students across various grade levels, Graciela knew the students as individuals and could modify her instruction to meet their needs."
"I would describe Graciela Livas as a teacher who impacts, innovates, creates and follows through with her word, responsibilities and commitments."
"One thing I admire, is Graciela’s ability to identify, not problems, but opportunities for all of us to become better people, students, parents, and valuable human beings. Her ability to identify these and her expertise and assertiveness to address them, is what makes her a great mentor. She leads by example."
Brooks Lüscher
"Thank you for making me feel safe to share. Thank you for making me feel seen and heard and for making my son feel honored as an individual and seeing the best in him."
"Brooks is an insightful and dynamic teacher, dedicated to getting to know learners on a personal level and meeting the needs of each individual child. She is, herself, a lifelong learner who is passionate about growing and developing as an educator and sharing best practices with other teachers."
"You modeled so much of what we needed to see and feel. You showed respect for all of the children in your class, persistence, patience, and strength."
"...my educational philosophy has metamorphosed just by observing her in the way she interacts, encourages, and supports the tiniest of toddlers to the adults in her environment. Brooks is an inspirational and passionate advocate of learner voice.”
"She is an attentive educator who puts a lot of thought into how she presents materials and classes. She will adjust to meet individual goals and learning styles, is an active listener, and encourages students to always try their best. She believes in a child center approach allowing each child/student to blossom at their own pace and rhythm.”
Professional Bios
Brooks Lüscher
As an early childhood educator in an international school setting for the past eighteen years and as Head of the Early Childhood department for the past ten years, Brooks is a trained International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IBPYP) teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Cross-Cultural Psychology with a certificate in Counseling Theory and Practice, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and a Master’s of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies within Education. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Cognitive Diversity in Education at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education.
Brooks is passionate about celebrating neurodiversity and developing innovative learning environments that are supportive of both strengths and needs. She believes all learners should be provided with voice and choice within their learning environments including the co-construction of their learning journey.
Graciela Livas
She brings over 17 years of teaching experience, is currently serving as a Learning in Motion (LIM) teacher for the elementary level and the Fusion Ballet Coordinator at the American School Foundation of Monterrey, Mexico. She is the creator of both of these programs, which attempt to enhance student learning by infusing motion, creativity, and cross-curricular instruction to the everyday classroom. She is passionate about creating environments where learning is equitable for all, where unique learning profiles and neurodiversity are celebrated, and where awe, excitement, and student voice are brought back into learning.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance, a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Ballet, a Masters of Science in Education in Multidisciplinary Studies, and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Education in Cognitive Diversity at Bridges Graduate School.
Certifications
Certificate of Twice-Exceptional Education
International Baccalaureate Trained (PYP)
ASCD Building Teachers Capacity for Success: Instruction Coaching
Compass Education Practitioner Level One Certification
Teaching ESL students in mainstream classrooms: Language in learning across the curriculum (TESMC)