New York City, New York Jul 17, 2020 (Issuewire.com) - The accessibility of education still varies around the world, and for many underprivileged children in Milwaukee, the founding of the Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy (GHTCA) was life-saving.
GHTCA is a K-8 school that aims to provide education to the economically disadvantaged. It is part of Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program, which began offering school vouchers to underprivileged Milwaukee students in 1990. The program is heralded as the country’s very first modern private school choice program.
The institution was built upon the vision of the late Elder Joe R. DeShazer and was made into a reality by Pastor James Edward DeShazer. James had quit his corporate job and decided to start the school using his own money. GHTCA began its humble journey in 2003, opening with only 57 students. Today, it is home to over 600 students per year.
The school’s Mission Statement on its website reads: “Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy is dedicated to serving a diverse population and providing its students with a supportive learning environment; to inspire all students to strive for excellence in pursuing a strong academic and Christian foundation, in order to succeed in and contribute to the community.”
Moreover, its philosophy is to give its students the best learning experience possible, through providing a safe and nurturing learning environment that breeds critical thinkers, inspires leadership, and promotes self-sufficiency.
Today, GHTCA is led by Executive Director Edward DeShazer, son of its founder, Pastor DeShazer. Edward started working with his father in the school in 2006 as a gym teacher. Throughout the years, he has contributed to different areas of the institution, including its technology program and admissions department.
Edward is passionate about education and helping children get the best experience out of it. He was a troubled youth earlier on in his life and is thankful for his teachers, who refused to give up on him.
The Milwaukee-native is also on the Executive Committee for the organization, Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium (CAGC), comprising over 35 public and private school systems in southeastern Wisconsin. CAGC is composed of committed school leaders determined to uphold social justice and establish greater equity in their schools. It services over 50,000 students.
Moreover, Edward is a certified trainer and presenter for a program called “Restorative Practice,” which has helped reduce exclusionary punitive discipline practices in schools, and in turn, improve students’ sense of community. The program also aims to help better academic performance while also narrowing the obtrusive racial gap in school systems. Edward has been to countless workshops across the country, immersing himself in restorative training sessions and certifications to bring together techniques for schools to improve their communities through better quality education. “During the school year, I motivate teachers and share tips and techniques on my weekly podcast—Teacher’s Ed Podcast,” he shares.
The education advocate is also the President of VentureFifth, an organization that provides financial solutions and enhanced leadership strategies to entrepreneurs to help them strengthen their businesses. With the help of VentureFifth, Edward has sponsored many community-based initiatives. One of these is the annual “Back to School Backpack Block Party,” which gives away over a thousand backpacks filled with supplies to children in the city of Milwaukee. “Kids across Milwaukee show up to school unprepared every year. Help be a difference-maker in getting them the start they deserve,” Edward wrote in his GoFundMe post last year.
Edward has also established the Edward DeShazer Adversity Scholarship in his alma mater, Nicolet High School, a scholarship which he awards to two high school seniors who have overcome adversity themselves annually.
GHTCA’s Executive Director is eager to connect with people in the field of education. He aims to share his views on how schools should shift to restorative practices instead of punitive punishment, and how it’s crucial for learning institutions to focus on relationship building with its students. According to him, “It is proven that students learn better from teachers they like, but very rarely do schools have a defined program to help their staff build meaningful relationships with their students.”
Visit GHTCA’s website to learn more about the school, and reach out to Edward through email at deshazer@greaterholy.org, or phone at (414) 265-4131, or Facebook.
Media Contact
Edward DeShazer deshazer@greaterholy.org https://www.greaterholy.org/
