Business & Values Program

In the fall of 2020, Sacred Heart School was excited to announce a new partnership with Choice Bank in Grand Forks, which has enabled the school to expand 7-12th grade business class choices for students. This opportunity started over a cup of coffee between School President Carl Adolphson, Sacred Heart Foundation Officer Mark Brickson, and Choice Bank CEO, Brian Johnson.  “We were talking about how important it is for students today to have business literacy,” said Adolphson.  That discussion prompted the creation of a partnership between Sacred Heart School and Choice Bank.  “Part of the program will bring individuals from Choice Bank over to the school to enrich the curriculum,” explains Adolphson.

The Business & Values Program is a first of its kind at Sacred Heart and combines the school’s core values with Choice Bank’s real world business experience.  Choice Bank CEO Brian Johnson announced the program at the school’s Back–to–School night this fall.  “We want to combine the values that Sacred Heart believes about leadership, commitment, creativity and the faith that help shape your children’s minds,” explained Johnson, “and give your children a line to help prepare them to go out into the world to make a difference.”

The partnership will add additional semester or yearlong courses in Microsoft Office Suite, personal & business law, accounting (with four course options) and entrepreneurship.  The move greatly expanded the school’s business program, which has long been helmed by Dave Andrys.  

This past spring, Laurie Ball, a Career and Technical Educator with 34 years of previous teaching experience, was hired to oversee the program.  To give her a place to work, Choice Bank funded a new business lab with all the software tools needed to get the additional classroom computer lab ready for students. New for Sacred Heart students is the inclusion of Netop Vision Pro software installed on each computer station which allows screen sharing between teacher and student.  “It helps them see the lectures,” explains Ball, “but it really does help the students to focus.”

Ball has the curriculum, classroom and students in place, but it is the partnership with Choice Bank that sets this program apart. Ball shares that working in collaboration with Choice Bank, and particularly with Senior Vice President Samantha Berg has been integral to providing students with a real–world business context.  “She brings it in from the perspective of an employer,” explains Ball,  “and can provide for students knowledge why, for example, soft skills and communication skills are important in an interview and on the job.” 

Berg’s background is in education with a degree from the University of North Dakota.  She has worked in a variety of areas for Choice but ultimately landed in Human Resources.  She is now primarily focused in the areas of internal communication, company culture, and leadership coaching education.  “At Choice I spend my time building leaders and I now have the pleasure to utilize some of those same principles to help our youth succeed in their future careers,” explains Berg. 

Berg joins the classroom at Sacred Heart periodically to provide lectures which supplement what the students are studying. “Laurie’s program is fantastic because she has been educating for so long and built such a great curriculum,” says Berg. Berg feels that the program will only continue to grow as the opportunities for the partnership are unlimited.  “Education gives you great information and facts,” explains Berg.  “Choice is here to help close a gap that often exists between the facts learned and the real world application.”

When the program was first rolled out as an option for students, there was very high interest with some classes filling to the limit.  Sacred Heart senior Ben Goetz signed up for not just one, but two courses - finding time for Accounting I and Business Law.  “I really see now that everyone uses accounting in their lives so I’m glad I took the class, ” says Goetz. 

When visiting classrooms, students are intently focused on absorbing information as they interact with Ball in classes, converse, and relate to their teacher’s stories and examples as they unpack terminology.  Senior Macyn Bloom is enrolled in the semester-long Microsoft Word class and has already found it has helped her in other courses at Sacred Heart.  “We’re learning so many shortcuts and we can use those for other teacher’s assignments,” says Bloom.  “We do assignments in class, she gives you directions, you go through each step, and apply your short cuts.”  That is really the outcome that their teacher hopes get from her students.  “They see how these courses will help to assist them in their everyday life applications,” says Ball.  “I think they are realizing this isn’t just a keyboarding class but tools and skills for success.” 

Sacred Heart and Choice Bank are on an exciting path as they continue to roll out this new program, and Berg hopes to keep advancing the partnership as they go through the current year and beyond with the addition of more expert partners from Choice Bank.  “We’d love to see a mentorship program designed to partner seniors with someone in the workforce so they can begin having career conversations.” says Berg.  

Future possibilities will include classroom lectures and partnerships provided by Choice Bank’s employees in accounting, information technology, human resource, or visits from the Innovation Team which works with businesses and entrepreneurs of financial technology companies.  “We’re going to have a lot of different speakers for classes,” shares Sacred Heart senior Michael Suda, “It’s really nice to have a list of planned visitors and learn about what’s happening in the field.”

CEO Brian Johnson is pleased that Choice Bank is a part of the next chapter at Sacred Heart.  “In a world that often focuses on what is not going right,” states Johnson,  “I’m excited and we’re honored to be a part of what Sacred Heart is teaching young people who are looking to be the next leaders of tomorrow.” Johnson looks forward to what the Business & Values Program can do for students as they learn about what business can do to lead and contribute back to the community.  “That is what this community here, and more importantly, this world needs.”