Holderness Faculty: Why Their Work Matters

Before students returned from spring break, Holderness faculty gathered for an in-service day to reflect and align around the work that matters most.

This year’s in-service speaker, Edward DeShazer, delivered a message that resonated deeply with Holderness.

The Executive Director of Greater Holy Temple Christian Academy in Madison, Wisconsin, and the 2026 School Executive Director of the Year, Edward is an award-winning educator whose work is grounded in unlocking the potential in others. He is the author of Closing the Believe’ment Gap and Special Sauce, two books that explore the transformative power of educators who believe in a child’s limitless potential.

He shared his own story—being labeled “at-risk” in elementary school, followed by repeated suspensions and expulsions in high school—and the four educators who believed in him when others did not, laying the foundation for his transformation.

The Platinum Rule: Treat Students as They Need to Be Treated

He started by offering a set of simple, practical rules educators can use to build those kinds of relationships—grounded in what he calls the Platinum Rule: not just treating others as you would want to be treated, but as they need to be treated.

1. Don’t be boring.
2. Spend one-on-one time with the students who are hardest to reach.
3. Show up beyond the classroom. Students notice.
4. Look for something specific to affirm.
5. Take an interest in what they care about.
6. And share your own stories. Students need to see that adults are human, and that growth includes getting it wrong.

He followed by asking faculty a simple question: Think of a teacher who changed your life. What made them different?

The answers—patient, passionate, creative, nonjudgmental, interested—pointed to something deeper. Students connect with people before they connect with content. They remember who showed up, who listened, and who believed in them before there was a reason to.

“What struck me most about the speaker’s question,” said Caroline Guzman, Head of the History Department, “was that it gave me space to reflect on my own education and the educators who really inspired me or connected with me as a student. Some teachers instantly stood out, like my 6th-grade teacher, whom, after hearing Edward, I reached out to thank. Even as veteran educators, it’s important to think about the teachers who inspired us and helped to shape the teachers we are today.”

Small Choices, Lasting Impact

He reminded our educators that the small choices have the biggest impact. The coach who gave him a second chance, the teacher who spoke 1-1 with him in the hallway and sent him back to her classroom rather than send him to the principal’s office, and the superintendent who allowed him to re-enter school after an expulsion. These decisions changed the trajectory of Edward’s life.  

At Holderness, these moments are everywhere. They happen when a dorm parent stays up to check in on a student who has had a challenging week. When a coach reframes a mistake as leadership potential rather than failure. When a teacher pauses a lesson to make sure a student is heard, not just assessed. When an advisor notices something has shifted with a student and reaches out to understand why. These acts build trust and, over time, transform potential into self-confidence.

Edward emphasized that respect and relationships are at the heart of any transformation. At Holderness, that belief is not just a philosophy; it’s the work and why it works.

"Edward's talk to the faculty at this time of year was like a shot in the arm,” said School Counselor Carol Dopp. “He reminded us of the important work we do EVERY day. He had four adults who believed in him while in high school, who made a difference in whether he graduated, attended college, and became a successful educator and family man. At Holderness, I know, many of our teachers, coaches, staff members, dorm parents, etc., make a difference in the current and future lives of our students." 

About Edward DeShazer

Through his keynotes, workshops, and book Closing the Believe’ment Gap, Edward offers practical strategies and powerful stories that inspire and challenge audiences to take action. His goal is to equip educators, leaders, and individuals with the tools they need to believe in themselves and others, creating environments where growth is not only possible but inevitable.

This mission is deeply personal to Edward. He knows what it feels like to have the world doubt you—and the incredible transformation that happens when someone believes in your potential. It’s not just about hope; it’s about creating tangible change. Edward aims to help bridge that gap—whether in schools, organizations, or individual lives—and unlock the incredible potential waiting on the other side.

https://edwarddeshazer.org/