Strong Roots, Growing Program John Pohl Makes Goals In the Business Department

Reprinted from Traditions, Spring 2017-2018
July 24, 2017

John Pohl Builds Real-World Business Connections and Experiences for our Students

“My parents taught me such an important lesson,” said John Pohl, Business Teacher. “Both my mom (a Prosecuting Attorney and Director of Court Services) and my dad (Teacher, Athletic Director and Assistant Principal) have had very successful careers, but they always put their children first.”

That level of commitment is a driving force in Pohl’s life and brought the former pro hockey player to the classroom. It is not hard to figure out how a kid from Red Wing, Minnesota ended up playing hockey. With his dad as a hockey coach, he grew up on the rink, worked hard and became a high school hockey standout, being selected as Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey in 1998. For the next 12 years, Pohl lived and breathed hockey, playing for the Minnesota Gophers, winning the 2002 NCAA National Championship. He played professionally in the National Hockey League and internationally before retiring in 2010. His success in hockey is well documented.

He also knew when it was time to put roots down and focus on his own family first. Married for ten years to Krissy Wendell, a two-time Olympian in women’s hockey who also played for the Gophers, they now have three daughters and have settled into a wonderfully hectic life of raising their family.

While hockey is not totally out of the picture right now, it is all centered on his family. “We work together to coach youth hockey for our girls,” explained Pohl. He also points out that he and Krissy hope their girls and their own passions, whether it is hockey or something else. Right now, the kids are enjoying hockey, soccer, and lacrosse. Rumor has it that he and his oldest daughter can also perform “Love is an Open Door” from the movie ‘Frozen’ with gusto because that is what she enjoyed doing.

Expanding Business Department Opportunities

Teaching at CDH for the past seven years, Pohl has grown the business department significantly and is committed to giving students real-world business experiences.

Since Pohl has been teaching business, the number of students has grown tremendously. The Accounting classes alone have more than tripled in students. The demand for business classes has expanded the number of sections offered to 25.

“I hope to give our students the opportunity to see the business world first hand,” explained Pohl.

Under his leadership, CDH students have many new programs that enhance the coursework and give students experiences that expand their real-world understanding of business.

For instance, Pohl brought a program to CDH that provides students with the chance to work with mentors at KPMG, Thrivent Financial, and Allina Health through the eMentors program. This program pairs a student and professional for the trimester. This mentorship relationship has a lot of impact for the students who email their mentor on a weekly basis on topics tailored to curriculum and later meet on a site visit.

“A handful of our eMentors at KPMG are former CDH students who went on to work in accounting professionally,” Pohl noted. “It is really cool for our students to connect with the younger professionals who can give them a realistic sense of the world of business, even things like expectations and work ethic, to enhance what they learn in the book.”

One of the most exciting opportunities for students is with DECA, in its third year at CDH. DECA is a competitive program at the high school level that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.

At CDH, DECA is part of the Accounting course. 
Pohl has every student complete the DECA program and a project. Many students take advantage of the option of competing at local and regional competitions. This year,
more than 60 CDH students competed, with 29 going to the state competition. Many students earned top honors, with senior Michael McMahon taking first place in his event, qualifying for internationals.

“DECA brings a sense of team competition to our business learning,” noted Pohl. “Like so many things in life, to do well, it takes preparation and practice.“

The former professional hockey player reflects on the value of competition and collaboration to engage students and provide valuable lessons from both wins and losses. “Team sports are a lot like life: you answer to a boss, you may or may not have a lot in common with your co-workers, and you have to figure out ways to ‘win’ – at whatever common goals you set.”

Pohl also challenges students to think about business leadership and goals, with a unit on social entrepreneurship. “Students often think the role of business is just to make money,” explained Pohl. One of our units exposes the students to broader goals through accounting case studies on companies such as TOMS Shoes so students can explore measurements of success beyond pro t. “We can use our skills to make money, for sure. But business can also help those with needs as well.”

For Pohl, teaching business means finding a new kind of personal success.

A graduate of University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business in Marketing, he also earned a Masters in Education from the University of St. Mary’s. The transition from professional hockey to teaching and coaching brought balance in his life.

“Life in sports was unpredictable and we never felt settled, or that we belonged.”

Now, life as a teacher at CDH enables Pohl to make his family a top priority. “I watched my mom and dad, who both had successful careers, always made their family a huge priority. I want to do the same for my children.”

This article and more are featured in the Spring 2017-2018 issue of the CDH Magazine, Traditions.