About Mr. B

Mike Bertram, affectionately known as “Mr. B” in his classroom, has been an educator for over 30 years and currently teaches third grade in South Plainfield, New Jersey. He uses the power of poetry to help students learn from one another, celebrate their differences, build confidence, and discover their unique voices. For Mr. B, poetry is more than a lesson—it’s a window into his students’ worlds, offering a meaningful way to understand their experiences and emotions. 

Mike discovered his passion for spoken word poetry in 2002 and quickly made his mark. He represented New York City as a member of the prestigious Nuyorican Poetry Cafe Poetry Slam Team. In 2018, he was honored as the Jersey Poetry Movement Spoken Word Pioneer for his lasting influence on New Jersey’s poetry landscape.

Since then, Mike has performed across the country at colleges, universities, schools, libraries, and poetry festivals. He also leads creative writing workshops that inspire students in grades K–8 to find their voices through the power of words. In 2019, he was named Artist of the Year in Rahway, New Jersey, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the city's vibrant arts community.

As Program Director of the nonprofit A.C.P. Arts Ink located in Rahway, New Jersey, Mike works with community partners to offer meaningful artistic opportunities for youth and adults, using the arts to unite people, celebrate diversity, and bridge cultural gaps.