Classroom 240 is where Mrs. Olsen teaches her two subjects, AP Chemistry and Chemistry in the Earth System. When you walk in, it’s like any other BHS science classroom: black desks lined up with a big periodic table hanging at the back. One thing in her classroom that’s unique is she has every student complete a personal element with their name and picture of them with a form of nature at the beginning of the year, and they are lined-up around the windows at the back of the class.

Not only does she teach those two classes at BHS, but she has also taught Geometry and Pre-Calculus in her ten years of working here. Mrs. Olsen’s passion for teaching originated from having a really enjoyable high school experience and loving the dynamics and energy of being in a school. She commented, “In college, I worked at the Math Tutoring Center on campus and enjoyed helping others and explaining math concepts. This, combined with my high school experience, just kind of sealed the deal for me. Math and science classes can be very challenging, and many of them were for me when I was in high school and college, so I was and still am passionate about teaching these subjects in a way that makes them approachable for everyone and provides students with the confidence they need in order to know they can do hard things.”
She went to Wayne State University for undergraduate school and majored in math and chemistry. When she went to grad school, she attended U of M Dearborn and received her master’s in education. Her positive experiences through high school and college shaped her to be the great teacher she is and to do what she loves.
With AP Chemistry being a hard class, many students of hers face daily challenges. However, students love Mrs. Olsen’s support, as that is what she enjoys doing. One of her students in her AP Chemistry class, junior Owen Danaher, says, “She provides open lunches, which I find very helpful, especially when new topics are introduced or before tests.” One of Mrs. Olsen’s goals, on top of creating a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable space, is “to have students truly look forward to the hour they spend in [her] classroom with [her] every day, whether they like the actual subject or not.” Mrs. Olsen likes to build relationships with every one of her students because she believes it’s essential to make students feel like they belong in class and hopefully encourage them to come every day. This is a significant gesture that many of her students recognize and appreciate about her.
Outside of teaching, one thing Mrs. Olsen loves most is being active and spending time with her family. She shares, “I like running, swimming, and other exercises. As well as spending time with my husband, 3-year-old son Edison, and my 11 nieces and nephews. I also enjoy listening to podcasts, reading, and watching TV shows!” Not only does Mrs. Olsen support and put forth her best effort with her students while at BHS, but also her family and other activities she chooses to take part in.
Some things you could call “traditions” that Mrs. Olsen does in her class are the traditional labs, but in her AP Chemistry class, she explains, “We always create a ceiling tile at the end of each year, so students can leave their legacy behind in the classroom for future students.” Through this, Mrs. Olsen allows the current students to share their experiences and encourage future generations in the next class. She continues, “Last year in AP Chemistry, we did a final culminating project about chemistry in the world around us. This evolved into students doing cool things like pickling (some brought in pickled cucumbers), baking, safe sunscreen, deodorants, and so much more. It became an enjoyable day of tasting some food and learning about the importance of ingredients and what to look for on labels, etc.” These incredible projects Mrs. Olsen incorporates into the curriculum make the class more entertaining and something for students to look forward to at the end of the year.
Mrs. Olsen’s favorite part of her job is being able to plan graduation each year with Ms. Flood. She says, “Getting to work closely with the senior class throughout the school year that culminates with a graduation ceremony is very enjoyable and rewarding to be part of.”
Lastly, the most significant part of Mrs. Olsen’s job is creating relationships with students and the time she spends with them daily. “Berkley students are incredible humans, and I have been so fortunate, grateful, and thankful to be impacted by so many of them. I think the little things that occur day in and day out with students end up creating such strong and positive relationships with students that do last forever.”