Commitment to excellence

Kelly Bertilrud

Kelly Bertilrud’s love for Okemos schools runs deep, as she is a proud Okemos alum herself. Growing up, Kelly didn’t always know she wanted to be an educator. But when she joined the ACTION club at OHS, Rachel Freeman-Baldwin (“Ms. Free”) supported her in launching and leading a mentoring program for students at Central Elementary. Co-leading the Central Mentoring Program was Kelly’s first glimpse into her future life as an educator. Building relationships with the students at Central became one of her highlights from high school.

After graduating from Okemos in 2010, Kelly spent the next 10 years on the east side of the state. Kelly studied Psychology and Community Action and Social Change at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!), then stuck around for an additional year to receive her master’s degree in Elementary Education. Kelly’s degree in Community Action and Social Change has been one of the driving forces behind her work as an educator. A caring teacher and an inclusive classroom community can change the course of a child’s life. Kelly aims to help children to build empathy, learn to strive toward equity and justice, and to be compassionate future leaders of our world.

In 2015, Kelly began her first teaching position in 4th grade at University Prep Schools in Detroit. The five and a half years that Kelly spent teaching in Detroit were an invigorating, challenging, and extremely rewarding experience that helped shape Kelly into the teacher she is today. Kelly adores Detroit and returns to visit as often as she can.

After welcoming her first child, Kelly moved back to Okemos to be closer to family. She couldn’t have been happier to find that a teaching position had opened up in Okemos at just the same time. Being back in Okemos as a teacher (at Central of all places!) has felt so right. Witnessing the curiosity and passion for learning from her students in the Paw Paw room has Kelly excited to come to work every day. Kelly’s Montessori teaching team is the most fun and supportive people around, and she doesn’t know how she survived in her previous classroom without her parapro extraordinaire, Jen Hall-Berman! At OPM, Kelly also serves as the Safety Patrol Coordinator, is on the School Improvement Team, and is one of the building’s Union Representatives. 

Outside of the classroom, Kelly and her high school sweetheart, Erik (shout out to Mr. Fahy’s alternative Spring Break trip that brought us together!), have two children, Ben (5) and Eli (nearly 3). She looks forward to seeing her boys learn and grow in Okemos Public Schools just as she and her husband did!

 

Trisha Funk

 

Trisha Funk has dedicated over a decade to teaching Spanish at both Chippewa Middle School and Okemos High School, where she inspires students across multiple levels of the language. Trisha strives each day to make sure her lessons are interactive, fun and practical. Beyond the classroom, she serves as junior class advisor, playing a key role in organizing commencement, prom, homecoming, and the senior graduate parade. She also facilitates the Senior Project service day, organizes a Holiday Gift Drive for Okemos families, and has led international travel experiences for students, including trips to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

Trisha’s favorite part of Okemos is its community. After losing her apartment in the Knob Hill fire of 2022, she experienced an outpouring of support that reaffirmed her gratitude to be part of such a caring and generous district.

In addition to her professional commitments, Trisha finds ways to give back outside of school. Trisha and her dog, Cali, have become certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. They volunteer at various locations like the Delta Township District Library, Forster Woods Adult Day Care Center, and McLaren Hospital. In her free time she enjoys golfing, skiing, and wake surfing. She loves spending time with her family, her fiancé Brandon, and her many friends.  Trisha also enjoys cheering on the Detroit Lions and Michigan State football, basketball, and hockey. 

 

Jen Harnick

Jen Harnick has been teaching for Okemos Public Schools since 2003. She has taught in both general education and special education – leading her to a variety of buildings, including Hiawatha, Wardcliff, Kinawa and currently Cornell. At each school, she has found amazing staff who have become such great, life-long friends. In her spare time, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband and sons – watching their sports and band performances and – if life allows – avidly reading.

 

Danielle Ives

Corrinne Karpinski – Director of Transportation