“Awesome, dedicated, hardworking, positive.” Each of these words were used by her mentor to describe Mrs. Katie Kulakowski. 

When Ms. Erin Fenn, Kulakowski’s mentor, was asked about her mentee, those words came to mind.

“Mrs. K knows these students both in and outside of school” said Fenn. “She is deeply invested in their well-being and future.”

A Triton alumna and Rowley native, Kulakowski knew she wanted to teach ever since her second grade class at Pine Grove Elementary. Inspired by her teacher at the time, Mrs. Reynolds, and her levels of organization and seeing the fun of decorating a classroom, she had her mind set. 

Kulakowski completed all of her schooling in the Triton District up until college where she graduated from Wheelock in Boston. Though it’s no longer a college, clearly it sent their students straight to success. Kulakowski’s major of Special Education allowed her to start student teaching at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown. Not only that, she also student-taught at Mason Pilot School in Roxbury, giving her the perfect preparation to start teaching on her own. 

Kulakowski’s first solitary teaching job was at Masconomet Regional Middle School where she taught 7th and 8th grade combined for six years. Following that, she became a long-term substitute at Pine Grove. Slowly, she made her way up the ladder to where she is now, a special education teacher. 

Kulakowski’s desire to help students succeed is what keeps her going every day. 

“I just love working with the kids,” Says Kulakowski. “I love working with them through struggles, working with them through things they enjoy, getting to know all of their different personalities as humans and as learners too.”

She spends her day with a variety of students. Pulling them out of classes, joining classes, and overall providing them with all of the support she can. This all started in high school. 

“I volunteered in the Special Ed program at Triton, when I was at Triton,” said Kulakowski. “… I didn’t go to gym or study hall, I went to the Special Ed classroom for any free time.”

Kulakowski has gone the full circle in this district. From being taught, to now doing the teaching. Her passion and dedication to help her students achieve their “ah-hah” moments surely shows. 

As her mentor says. “Mrs. K is a great fit at PGS. She is a familiar face in the school, sports arenas and Rowley community! Students know she cares about them and looks out for them.”