What have you done that you are proud of?
I am proud of my educational journey and how far I have come in my educational endeavors. Throughout the past five and half years that I have worked as a counselor, I have worked diligently to help shape the lives and futures of the disenfranchised students’ population and community I served. Working as a counselor in one of the most remote communities in Los Angeles has opened my eyes to see the realities that exist between the rich and the poor, the advantaged and disadvantaged populations. I am proud that I have used my social justice lens education from LMU to live a meaningful life of service and leadership. Although I have received many awards such as “Rookie of the Year,” the “Young Jedi” nomination for the Counselor of the Year from LACOE (Los Angeles County of Education), amongst others, I am proud to have used my servant leadership to make a difference in the lives of my students and the community in which I work. I have also taken on many leadership roles at a school site level as well as at a district level. I have served as the director of the Animo Pat Brown Mentorship Ambassador Program, African American Students Achievement Lead, Counselors Professional Development Lead for Green Dot Public Schools, as well as Coordination of Services Team (COST) Lead. Needless to say, despite my leadership involvement in many different capacities, what I am most proud of is my desire and willingness to fill in the gap where needed and live a fulfilling life of servitude.
How has your work made an impact on your community, school, agency, classroom, clients or students?
I believe the work I do every day at my school site and community is making an impact because I see my students transform before my eyes, and see their insurmountable dreams come to reality. For example, many of my students who are the first in their families to either graduate from high school or attend college, come to my office feeling confused and overwhelmed with decisions to make about the future. After asking questions and engaging in a dialogue, they leave my office with a smile on their faces, feeling optimistic, and dare to dream. Furthermore, when I speak with parents and community members, they do not stop praising and applauding the work that we do at the school to prepare their children for life, college, and leadership. In a similar manner, I have also had graduates write me letters or come back to thank me for guiding them in their educational endeavors, and that they too are pursuing education because of the impact I had on their life. In the words of one of my assistant principals, Sadoc Caraballo, when he was interviewed by the district Home Office, he said, ”Mr. Kulee is a dedicated counselor to all the APB students in all areas. He not only cares that students are successful academically, but also socially and emotionally. It is wonderful to see how he has created beautiful relationships with the students and a culture of trust with everyone. In his practice it is remarkable to see his passion for social justice, equity, and transformative education. In one of my students' appreciation cards to me on how my work has impacted her, she wrote “I’ve become more confident in my communication, being more confident about my choices because of your positive, energetic, happy personality. “I believe my time at LMU has prepared me to do the social justice related work that I do every day as I work with students to make a meaningful difference in their communities and future endeavors.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of your work?
The evidence that demonstrates the impact of my work is in the letters I receive from students every year as a way of appreciation for our time together. I have also received numerous awards from the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) program for helping and supporting their children both mentally and academically to secure academic excellence in their educational endeavors. Before one of my students graduated, she wrote a card to me and said the following ”...I’m writing to you because I wanted to express my gratitude with you helping my communication skills…in your office you always create a comfortable environment where people open up to you on the daily. I was a shy kid back before the pandemic but after talking to you a couple of times, I feel like I am starting to become more open and less shy…” This is why I do the work I do every day, seeing my students being transformed and striving for new heights, and challenging the status quo.