‘I Pray for You Every Day’ Was His Father’s Last Words, and Every Day Edward DeShazer Is Making It His Mission to Honor His Legacy

Two days before he passed on June 6, 2020, Pastor James Edward DeShazer spoke his last words to his son, Edward DeShazer, and said, “I pray for you every day.” Even in his last moments when he needed prayer the most, he was still praying for others. This is who he was, and this is a reflection of the legacy he has built at the Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy (GHTCA) and the rest of the city of Milwaukee.

For Edward, the story of the school was always one of the greatest stories he ever knew and shared. It was a story of dedication and selflessness for others. In 2003, his father quit his corporate job to start school with his own money. Knowing that there were children in the community who could not afford to go to school, it became his dedication to touch the lives of the children and make a difference.

The entire GHTCA — and those whose lives were greatly changed because of it — stood still with the passing of the man who brought the school to life and made sure to keep it alive. The outpour of support from the community has proven how huge of an imprint he has left in Milwaukee.

Being by his father’s side at the school since 2006 and seeing how important this school was for him, Edward has made it his purpose to fulfill the vision and mission of his father and his uncle by serving the city of Milwaukee and its children. He is currently the executive director of Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy, a school envisioned by his brother Rev. Joseph R. DeShazer and founded by his father, Pastor James DeShazer.

He did not start out as a successor to a mission built from selflessness, service to others, and dedication. Growing up, he was not a role model, not a good student even. He was suspended from school over thirty times. He got expelled from high school within the first month of his freshman year. He was always finding himself in trouble until he started working alongside his father and rose to the ranks until he was named as the executive director by the school board.

53206, the most incarcerated zip code in the country, is where Edward focuses on his mission. “If our techniques can help reach these students to build relationships and help them build confidence, they can work with any students,” he explains. “I have a passion for children and helping them because I know how much teachers helped me by not giving up on me.”

Through his leadership, GHTCA’s State Report Card score has risen by over 16% and is one of the higher-performing schools in Milwaukee that serve over a 95% disadvantaged population. When the school opened in 2003, it had 57 students. Today, the school currently educates more than 600 students each year.

Besides managing the school, Edward is also on the Executive Committee for The Closing the Achievement Gap Consortium (CAGC), a collection of over 35 public and private school systems in southeastern Wisconsin. They have united together to create a high impact professional learning community focused on creating greater equity in their schools. He also actively attends countless workshops to immerse himself in restorative certifications, training, and workshops so he can bring all of these techniques together to help schools improve their school community, one child at a time.

Along with his passion for education, Edward is the president of VentureFifth. Through VentureFifth, Edward has sponsored many community-based initiatives. He annually awards two high school seniors from his alma mater Nicolet High School with scholarships. He also hosts an annual block party that gives away over 1,000 backpacks to students.

Edward is working hard to keep the mission of his father alive, and whatever it takes, just like what his father did for him, he will honor his mission every day.

Learn more about Edward DeShazer and follow him on Instagram.