Each generation has a small number of transformative educational leaders whose contributions go well beyond teaching. These are the pioneers who have changed how we think of the act of learning altogether. These trailblazers understand that each child has a tremendous amount of possibility and potential regardless of disability or diagnosis. One of those pioneering educational leaders is Dr. Dawn Menge. She is an accomplished educator, multiple awards-winning author, and CEO of “Land of Quails House”. She has spent over 28 years demonstrating that if we meet our students where we find them, and have faith in where they can go, miracles do happen. Her work in the field of special education has fundamentally changed what it means to be a student with a cognitive delay and inspired educators, families, and communities around the world.
From Volunteer to Visionary
The path to greatness rarely follows a straight line. Dr. Dawn’s story begins in her mother’s kindergarten classroom, where she volunteered while pursuing her Associate of Science degree in Business Administration. With her three young children by her side, she discovered the pure joy of watching young minds open to the world around them.
When she accepted her first position as a special educational assistant in a classroom for students with moderate to severe disabilities, she stepped into her true calling. Two exceptional teachers guided her through the complexities of different disabilities and the nuanced strategies required to reach each unique learner. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for a career that would touch thousands of lives.
The Education of an Educator
Dr. Dawn’s pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in human development tells a story of extraordinary determination. She enrolled in a distance learning program during an era when “distance learning” meant VHS tapes arriving by mail. She watched recorded lectures when she could, took tests during lunch breaks at work, and completed homework in stolen moments between her responsibilities as a working mother of three.
This wasn’t simply multitasking; it was a masterclass in dedication. Her own struggle to balance education, career, and family would later inform her deep empathy for the families navigating their children’s educational journeys.
A Classroom Without Walls
After graduation, Dr. Dawn began working with elementary students transitioning to junior high, and something extraordinary happened: she stayed with them. Through junior high, into high school, and eventually to an adult center in a storefront, she remained their constant guide, their unwavering advocate, and their bridge to possibility.
This continuity created something rare in education: a genuine community. With the same dedicated assistants working alongside her year after year, Dr. Dawn built relationships with families that transcended the typical teacher-parent dynamic. Her students didn’t just learn in classrooms; they learned by doing, by experiencing, and by engaging with the world on their own terms.
They established a business manufacturing lighted Christmas tree, learning about commerce and quality control. They participated in recycling programs, visited theaters, explored amusement parks, and swam with dolphins. They hit the slopes for snow skiing, with some riding sleds guided by instructors, others skiing with reins attached, and advanced students learning to snowboard.
One winter day captured the spirit perfectly. Strong winds blew chairs off the ski lift wheel, and one student required evacuation by small board. This situation left Dr. Dawn’s heart racing. Yet the student found it exhilarating, a testament to the confidence these young people had developed under her guidance.
Her students attended college classes and worked in community settings, proving daily that disability doesn’t define capability. The pinnacle came during a graduation ceremony when Dr. Dawn walked alongside one of her students, just three people behind her own son, who graduated with his sisters from her alma mater. Her professional and personal lives converged beautifully, embodying everything she had worked to achieve.
Embracing New Chapters
When her original students aged out, Dr. Dawn transferred to a new school site where she has now spent fourteen years building new bonds. Currently facing another transition as the district reclaims these classes, she approaches this challenge with characteristic grace.
Throughout her career, certain moments have defined what she considers most rewarding. Each year, the district organizes proms for special education students where families dress in their finest and create cherished memories together. Dr. Dawn also secured grants from Cal Poly that enabled her students to create and perform skits at local elementary schools. Watching them step onto those stages and later declare, “I can do this myself,” represents everything she works toward.
The true measure of her impact appears when students achieve grade-level increases in literacy and math skills, shattering expectations, and proving that with proper support, growth is always possible.
The Power of Story
Dr. Dawn discovered another vehicle for impact through storytelling. As author of Queen Vernita’s Educational Series, she creates bridges between young readers and literacy. Her books have earned over 90 international literacy awards and more than 200 film festival awards.
Yet the accolades matter less than the impact. Her books serve in programs helping adults immigrate to the United States, teaching English while introducing American culture. A young man from African refugee camps found profound connection with “Queen Vernita’s Visitors,” counting villagers on the Thanksgiving page and seeing reflections of his own homeland.
A teacher shared: “Your books were highly impactful. The first-generation immigrants that I worked with learned to read using them. Then, their children used the books to learn English and to learn about American culture. Your books were the initial inspiration for many individuals to begin reading in English. Individuals from Africa, Asia, Europe, Central and South America. Just an amazing positive impact on so many lives.”
Recently, Dr. Dawn donated 75 books to schools in Nigeria, extending her reach across yet another continent.
Recognition and Realization
Among her many honors, one stands out: watching the San Diego Playhouse transform “Precious the Baby Dragon” into a live-action production, with children adding singing, dancing, and jokes. For any author, seeing their creations celebrated by young performers represents a dream realized.
Dr. Dawn traveled to London to receive an award in Parliament, then to Scotland to speak at a wellness retreat while staying in a castle. Through the London Organization of Skill Development, she will visit Harvard next year.
The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, presented through The Book Profits Club, represents a pinnacle of recognition. She has served as an Author All Star for three consecutive years, receiving a special blazer symbolizing sustained excellence.
Preparing Students for Tomorrow
Dr. Dawn’s current students range from sixteen to twenty-two years old, a critical period when education must shift toward preparing them for adult independence. She teaches supported employment skills, monetary management, social skills, and functional competencies: budgeting, self-care, self-advocacy, and navigating public transportation.
Working as an induction coach, she supports newer teachers as they clear their credentials, providing emotional support and helping them reflect on their growth. She recognizes the challenges these educators face. Her advice remains consistent: remember the positive impact they make on families and students and anchor themselves to this truth when discouragement threatens.
A Vision for the Future
Dr. Dawn strongly supports accessibility for students with disabilities. However, her decades of experience have taught her that full inclusion isn’t always beneficial for students with moderate or severe disabilities. When a student functioning at the cognitive level of a three-year-old to five-year-old joins a classroom of teenagers, that placement often fails for everyone. The student cannot grasp the academic content and misses instruction tailored to their specialized needs.
By law, schools must provide the least restrictive environment. Dr. Dawn argues this must be balanced by providing the most beneficial environment for each individual student. She advocates case-by-case determinations rather than blanket policies.
She notes California’s movement toward students earning high school diplomas rather than certificates of attendance. Her class received a tower garden as a pilot program. Students planted seeds, monitored water pH levels, and harvested lettuces and basil for fresh salads. This year, they planted flowers, demonstrating that meaningful vocational learning takes many creative forms.
Living a Legacy
Dr. Dawn embraces her roles as mother, grandmother, educator, and author with equal dedication. She encourages today’s youth and future educators to stay focused on their goals while remaining open to unexpected paths. “Follow your passions,” she advises, “because passion sustains you through inevitable challenges.”
Looking toward 2026, she approaches the future with enthusiasm. She will attend a Book Ball in New England and participate in a collaborative project with four other authors focused on giving back to communities. Her website, Together We Create 4 Kids, continues expanding resources supporting children’s learning.
The Measure of a Life Well Lived
Dr. Dawn’s true legacy lives in transformed lives- in the student who learned to say “I can do this myself,” in the immigrant who learned to read English using her books, in the families who found support during challenging moments, and in the teachers she mentored who now mentor others.
Her 90 international literacy awards, 200-plus film festival awards, and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award document excellence. Yet these honors merely formalize what countless people already know: Dr. Dawn sees possibility where others see limitations, creates opportunities where obstacles seem insurmountable, and believes in every person’s capacity for growth.
From the young mother completing homework during lunch breaks to the internationally recognized educator speaking in Scottish castles, her journey demonstrates what becomes possible through dedication, compassion, and creativity. As CEO of Land of Quails House, she continues expanding her influence, creating resources, building communities, and advocating policies that truly serve students with disabilities.
Dr. Dawn represents the best of what education can be: personal yet professional, structured yet creative, and evidence-based yet heart-centered. She brings expertise and empathy in equal measure. In classrooms and through books, locally and globally, she continues illuminating paths for those who need utmost guidance.
Her career stands as testament to a profound truth: every student deserves an educator who sees their potential, honors their dignity, and commits to their success. As she moves through her fourth decade in education, Dr. Dawn remains as committed as that young mother who first volunteered in her mother’s classroom. Given the right support, every student can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. This belief, lived out daily through countless acts of dedication, defines her legacy and inspires all who encounter her work.
