“I have found that technology can be a wonderful teaching tool. Many educational teaching resources are available. But when we rely too heavily on technology, I think that we lose the personal interactions that are needed to fully engage our students and connect with them. I use technology sparingly in the classroom.”—quotes Dr. Menge.
Dr. Dawn Menge, a Special Education teacher at SBCSS and a Lecturer at CSUSB, is recognized for her focus on collaboration and student-centered learning in her teaching approach. She is passionate about transition education and has experience working with students of all ages. In her classes, students learn important life skills such as money management, work skills, self-efficacy, and independence. She believes in involving students in the community to give them practical knowledge, such as stocking shelves, cleaning stores, and pricing items.
Previously, her students have gained experience in various settings, including restaurants, where they assisted with tasks like making pizzas, setting up salad bars, folding boxes, and washing dishes. Dr. Dawn Menge managed a business project at an adult center, where students generated funds through Christmas tree sales and recycling initiatives, enabling a rewarding family trip to SeaWorld. Additionally, Dr. Menge secured medical grants to provide adapted ski lessons for her students. This ensured that each student had a tailored understanding based on their abilities, whether it be riding in sleds or learning to snowboard independently.
Heartfelt Moments
Dr. Dawn Menge’s teaching career, spanning over twenty-seven years, is filled with heartfelt memories and rewarding experiences. One such memory involves a visually impaired student working at Little Caesars. Despite a mishap with the dough, the other workers’ seamless support and inclusion of her student left a lasting impact, boosting the student’s confidence and skills. Another poignant moment occurred during a skiing trip when strong winds disengaged the chairlift, leaving a student stranded. Despite the nerve-wracking situation, the student found it thrilling, and Dr. Menge’s steadfast presence until her safe descent highlighted her dedication.
Watching her students be crowned King or Queen of their proms, with proud parents by their side, is another cherished memory. The regular education students work hard to provide the themed proms by decorating, making the food, music, and attending. It is really an amazing collaborative effort providing inclusive opportunities for both regular ed and special ed students ensuring that all receive opportunities provided under IDEA.
A Year in the Life of Special Education
Working with students with severe cognitive delays comes with significant challenges. Dr. Dawn Menge acknowledges that aggression and injuries among staff are not uncommon. Managing the diverse needs of both staff and students in small environments or within the community can be complicated. She recalls a difficult incident from the previous year when a student, upset over an iPad, accidentally broke her finger. Despite these challenges, Dr. Menge’s commitment to her students remains firm, continually striving to create a supportive and enriching environment for their growth and development.
From Classroom to Castle
Journey Through Various Teaching Roles
Dr. Dawn Menge’s journey into teaching began while she was pursuing her associate’s degree in business. She volunteered in her mother’s kindergarten classroom, where she could bring her two young daughters, and gained insight into the importance of a child-centered philosophy in education. Guided by her mother, she witnessed firsthand how engaging children and their families is vital to the educational process.
She later earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington State University through an extended learning program. During that time, she received VHS tapes of lectures and was supervised by the principal of the elementary school, where she worked as an assistant in a moderate/severe disabilities class. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she and her students transitioned to a junior high school, marking the beginning of her teaching career. Dr. Dawn Menge then pursued her teaching internship program and obtained her Master’s degree and credentials as an education specialist.
Dr. Menge completed her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction online through Capella University. Her dissertation focused on the six Federal Transition Goals for people with disabilities, specifically exploring the transition of students with disabilities into adult programs from ages 16-22. The federal goals under IDEA included training, education, employment, independent living, recreation, and community integration.
How a Math Book Assignment Sparked a Literary Career?
During her credential program in Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Dr. Dawn Menge was assigned the task of writing a math book and creating an educational game. This resulted in the development of “Queen Victoria’s Visitors,” a book that focuses on calendar skills with activities set in a castle, beneficial for emerging readers. Originally inspired by a student, the book was showcased in local schools with the help of Cal Poly grants, where Dr. Menge would explain her students’ disabilities to the audience.
She decided to name the book after her grandmother, a significant figure in her family. Each character in the book represents a family member. The book went on to win first place in the EVVY awards, leading to numerous requests for more books. Drawing on her passion for travel, Dr. Menge has since written fifteen books on various locations and topics, with more projects in progress.
Characters with a Purpose
The teaching and writing styles of Dr. Dawn Menge are all intertwined. Her educational books reflect the same concepts and formats she uses in her teaching. In her Queen’s adventures series, many characters are inspired by her students and colleagues. This includes children with disabilities such as Autism, Down Syndrome, Visual Impairments, Deafness, and Cerebral Palsy. These characters, based on real children and their families, navigate their lives while teaching the Queen about their unique needs and adaptations. Dr. Menge aims to emphasize that children with disabilities are just as eager for adventure as anyone else, highlighting their active lives.
Transforming Travels into Tales
Dr. Dawn Menge’s writing process for her Queen Vernita books starts with the adventures she goes on during her family travels. Her family takes monthly trips, collecting moments and information that inspire her stories. Sometimes, a simple idea transforms as she makes unexpected discoveries or learns new things about the places she visits. Her illustrator uses photos from these trips to create colorful, detailed collages for each page.
Queen Vernita’s adventures range from Pre-K to 6th grade, depending on the insights gained during the travels. For instance, a trip from Williams, Arizona, to the Grand Canyon was initially meant to be a fourth-grade-level book on the Grand Canyon. However, it turned into a Pre-K to 2nd-grade Christmas book, “Queen Vernita’s Magical Christmas Train Ride,” after encountering a Santa-themed train ride.
Dr. Dawn Menge also worked with her brother, an astronomer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to write a book on astronomy. Their collaboration, “Queen Vernita Meets Sir Heathybean the Astronomer,” includes playful elements like a scientist with wild hair and pink bunny slippers. The book, adapted into a screenplay, has received 64 film awards.
A special moment for Dr. Menge was during a school visit where she read “Queen Vernita’s Visitors” to a group of kindergarteners while her brother taught astronomy to third graders. After the reading, a young boy who had been quiet for weeks due to a recent loss began to open up about his feelings. This moment highlighted the impactful effect of her work. She and her brother gifted him signed copies of the Queen Vernita books, emphasizing the positive influence their stories can have on others.
The Power of Stories
Mr. Wayne, a friend of Dr. Menge, is an educator who helps immigrants adjust to life in the United States. Many of these immigrants face challenges with reading and writing in English. One of her favorite success stories involves a student named Nuh, who was born in Africa and later relocated to Seattle, Washington. Nuh encountered Mr. Wayne, a compassionate teacher who used Queen Vernita’s educational adventure to make a positive impact on his life.
Nuh was born under a tree in Africa and lived a nomadic lifestyle with his clan, relying on the land for survival with only a goat and a cow. Due to war, they were eventually forced into UN camps. Mr. Wayne once inquired why African runners were so fast. In response, Nuh stated, “If a person was not a fast runner in Africa, they were dinner,” in a matter-of-fact manner.
With the guidance of his teacher, Mr. Wayne, Nuh learned to read, write, and count in English using the Queen Vernita series. It took him about ten years to adapt to life in the United States, a significant change from his life in Africa.
Dr. Menge’s vast experience in special education teaching and her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction was instrumental in creating the educational series that supported Nuh and his family. Motivated by Nuh’s progress, Dr. Dawn Menge intends to travel to Ghana, Africa, in December with a nonprofit organization, bringing a suitcase filled with books for schools in the area.
Exclusive Retreats by Dr. Menge
Dr. Dawn Menge has started a new project with her writing journal and is now hosting writing retreats. One of her recent endeavors, the “Discover Your Writing Passion Retreat,” aims to provide participants with an immersive writing experience in the scenic location of Wrightwood, California. The retreat will take place at Westwood Castle, offering a mix of inspiration, relaxation, and productivity. In addition to the California retreat, Dr. Menge is also planning an event in New Orleans in February 2025.
Advice for Aspiring Author-Educators
Dr. Menge provides valuable advice for aspiring authors, especially those in the educational field. She believes that teachers are well-suited to creating reading materials due to their educational background, passion for storytelling, and dedication to reading to their students. Dr. Dawn Menge encourages educators to write stories that resonate with them and suggests joining writing communities, critique groups, and professional organizations like the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. For those considering writing a book, Dr. Menge recommends taking the leap and embracing the adventure, as one never knows where it may lead.
From Stalking Survivor to Storyteller
- Voices of 100 Women: As part of She Rises Studios’ docuseries for FENIXTV, Dr. Menge penned her very first romance novel. This book draws from her personal experiences of being stalked, aiming to support and help others who have endured similar ordeals.
- Harmony: “Harmony” is set in a charming mountain community. The story revolves around Harmony, who enjoys a peaceful life until a mysterious Christmas wreath and a beautifully crafted note with an intriguing invitation appear on her front door. As Harmony decides whether to follow the path laid out by her secret admirer, readers are taken on a journey filled with mystery and heartwarming moments. This book, much like her previous works, is deeply personal and rooted in Dr. Menge’s adventures and experiences, promising to captivate readers with its blend of suspense and warmth.
