When Blake Bertels agreed to serve on the Mount Olive Schools Board of Education, it wasn’t because he had time to spare. As a construction project superintendent in the higher education and life sciences space, his days are already full—planning logistics, managing crews, keeping multimillion-dollar university projects on track.

But when your three children attend the local school, your wife works in the district, and your family is deeply rooted in the community, making time takes on a different kind of urgency.

“I just want to get a little more involved,” Blake said. “I’ve got a background in project management, and I thought I might be able to bring a little competence and accountability to some of the conversations happening at the board level.”

As a father of three—ages 6, 10, and 12—Blake has a direct, daily connection to the schools he now helps govern. His family only recently transitioned to Mount Olive from a private school, but the experience so far has been encouraging. “The teachers here really care,” he said. “They’re invested. It’s clear that relationships matter.”

For Blake, the school board isn’t just about governance—it’s about opportunity. That includes a desire to see more homegrown programs flourish, especially in athletics. While he fully supports the district’s current co-op arrangements with nearby schools like Litchfield, he hopes the future might include more local strength.

“If we can build enough interest and participation, it’d be great to have more of these programs right here,” he said. “It’s about creating pride and giving the kids something that belongs to them. But I also get it—sometimes, to keep things going, you have to partner up. And that’s okay, too.”

With a background in construction and facilities oversight, Blake brings a valuable eye to building and grounds issues—a perspective he hopes will support more effective project planning and contractor accountability. “I know they just finished a roofing project and did some updates to the playground,” he said. “The reality is that most school construction happens in the summer. But it’s important we hold contractors to their timelines—because once school starts, kids come first.”

He also sees the board’s upcoming superintendent hire as a rare opportunity to reshape the district’s leadership culture. And though he’s new to the board, he’s already been impressed by the district’s interim superintendent, Stephanie. “She’s visible. She’s present. She cares,” he said. “And that kind of leadership sets the tone.”

One area where Blake hopes to offer more influence is vocational education. With years spent in the trades and construction management, he believes schools must do a better job of giving students pathways beyond the traditional four-year college route.

“College isn’t for everyone,” he said. “And there are great jobs out there—good-paying, meaningful work—that kids never even get to see. I’d love to see us grow our vocational offerings and give students a hands-on option to explore while they’re still in high school.”

Blake isn’t one for showy declarations or political grandstanding. His style is grounded, thoughtful, and distinctly solutions-focused. He’s raising a family, working full-time, and showing up—because he believes Mount Olive Schools can keep getting better, and that strong communities are built by people who lean in.

“I'm not here to overhaul the place,” he said. “I'm here to help strengthen what’s already working—and see where we can build next.”