Writing Brave Stories for Brave Kids_ A Conversation with Author & Educator Dawn Parks

On this episode of In Other Words Podcast, Pam, Jan, Val, and Karen sit down with Dawn Parks—an elementary teacher, marathon‑training runner, avid baker, and middle‑grade author who came out publicly as transgender in 2025, becoming one of the only openly trans elementary teachers in Iowa.With nearly 30 years in the classroom, Dawn has witnessed firsthand the challenges today’s kids face. That experience shapes her writing: honest, compassionate middle‑grade fiction that doesn’t shy away from tough subjects. She has published three novels so far, including her newest release—her first featuring a queer protagonist.In this conversation, Dawn shares what it was like to come out publicly as a teacher, how running and biking help her navigate life, why she loves baking pies, and how writing stories for young readers has become a powerful way to support kids who are searching for belonging, identity, and hope.It’s a warm, thoughtful, deeply human episode about authenticity, resilience, and the importance of writing about real life situations in children’s literature.Watch, listen, and join the conversation.A Production of Crimson Crow Press