From Teacher to Millionaire CEO: How Lisa Collum Built a $1.9M Business from Scratch with Her Last $99
When Lisa Collum invested her last $99 into a fledgling side hustle, she had no idea it would eventually grow into a $1.9 million business with nationwide impact. Today, Collum is the CEO of Top Score Writing, a company dedicated to improving students’ writing skills across the U.S. Her journey from classroom teacher to CEO highlights not only the potential for educational reform but also the power of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to making a difference.
The Humble Beginnings of Top Score Writing
Lisa Collum’s journey began in 2011, when she taught fourth grade at Village Academy School in Delray Beach, Florida. As a young teacher, Collum quickly recognized a serious gap in her students’ learning: writing skills. Many of her students, especially English language learners, struggled with the writing portion of standardized state assessments, finding it overwhelming and intimidating. Determined to help them succeed, Collum designed a step-by-step writing curriculum that broke down complex essay structures into manageable parts.
Her method proved to be remarkably effective. In her first semester using the curriculum, an impressive 95% of her students passed the state writing assessment, up from only 38% the previous year. Over the next two years, her students continued to excel, raising her school’s overall writing scores to unprecedented levels. The improvement was so notable that it drew attention from Florida’s Department of Education, which conducted investigations to confirm the authenticity of the scores.
Turning an Idea into a Business
Collum’s success as a teacher laid the foundation for what would eventually become Top Score Writing. However, the idea of turning her curriculum into a product initially seemed far-fetched. When a principal from her district approached her about purchasing the curriculum, she recalls laughing and saying, “There’s not an ounce of business in me.” But that initial order sparked something in Collum, and she decided to give it a shot.
With her last $99, she bought five binders, filled them with her curriculum, and began selling. Demand grew quickly, largely through word-of-mouth among local educators and school administrators. Soon, she found herself operating a makeshift assembly line in her living room, enlisting the help of her young children to package and prepare orders.
Within four years, her side hustle outpaced her $40,000 annual teaching salary, allowing her to leave her teaching position in 2015 to focus full-time on Top Score Writing. That same year, Collum took an even bigger leap by using business profits to purchase Coastal Middle and High School, a nonprofit private school in Lake Park, Florida. This acquisition not only expanded her impact on students but also deepened her dedication to improving educational outcomes.
Growing a Business with Purpose
Today, Top Score Writing has grown into a thriving enterprise, employing six full-time staff and 10 part-time team members. The company now serves schools across all 50 U.S. states, offering K-12 writing curricula designed to equip students with essential skills in planning, structuring, and writing essays. Priced between $125 and $625 depending on the grade level and service package, the curriculum includes everything from introductory materials to advanced writing strategies.
By 2016, Collum had digitized her curriculum, allowing Top Score Writing to reach even more students and teachers across the country. Her digital products and online presence have made it easier for schools, particularly Title I schools serving low-income communities, to access high-quality, structured writing instruction.
Collum’s commitment to underserved communities has been a cornerstone of her company’s mission. Top Score Writing was initially designed for Title I schools, where students often face significant academic challenges. Collum’s approach has proven especially effective in these settings, where a solid foundation in writing can dramatically improve students’ academic confidence and performance.
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Balancing Structure and Creativity in Writing
As Top Score Writing expanded, it inevitably reached schools with varying educational philosophies. While Title I schools often welcomed the curriculum for its structured, skills-focused approach, some parents and teachers in other schools expressed concerns that it limited students’ creativity. They argued that formulaic instruction prioritized test-taking over developing authentic writing voices.
Collum acknowledges these criticisms but emphasizes the importance of building fundamental skills. “All students need to learn the basics before they can experiment with creativity,” she explains. “Even the top students are struggling with writing, and structure provides them with a foundation they can build on.” Each Top Score Writing curriculum includes elements of creative writing, especially toward the end of the school year, allowing students to apply their skills in more open-ended formats.
Despite occasional criticism, Top Score Writing’s impact remains undeniable. Teachers consistently report improvements in their students’ writing confidence and skill level, attributing these gains to the program’s clear and structured approach. Tina Volanti, a former fifth-grade teacher at a Title I school in California, says her students flourished after she introduced Top Score Writing. “The kids became noticeably more confident and capable writers,” she says, adding that the program was instrumental in helping them recover lost learning during the pandemic.
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Developing Business Instincts and Confidence
Like many first-time entrepreneurs, Collum faced significant challenges in scaling her business. Initially, she struggled with self-doubt and uncertainty, unsure if her background in education equipped her to run a business. “The first five years were really hard,” she says. “It was hard to have confidence in myself, even though I had data that what I was doing worked.”
Through trial and error, Collum honed her instincts, learning when to trust her gut and when to seek outside expertise. Now, after more than a decade in business, she feels more prepared than ever to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. “I still know bumps are coming, but now I know how to take the hit and see what I can learn from it,” she says. “I always go back to what I believe in and what I know students can achieve.”
A Lasting Legacy in Education
Lisa Collum’s journey from teacher to CEO offers a powerful lesson in the impact of mission-driven entrepreneurship. Top Score Writing not only represents financial success but also stands as a testament to Collum’s commitment to improving education. Her story underscores the value of finding a purpose and following it with passion, even when faced with challenges.
Looking ahead, Collum hopes to continue expanding Top Score Writing’s reach, particularly in communities that need it most. She is also exploring ways to further enhance the curriculum with new technology and resources, ensuring that it remains relevant in an ever-evolving educational landscape.
Her journey serves as an inspiration to educators, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a vision of making a difference. With dedication, resourcefulness, and an unwavering commitment to her students, Collum turned a modest investment into a thriving enterprise that impacts classrooms across the country. For her, success is not just measured in dollars but in the knowledge that she’s helping students unlock their potential, one binder at a time.
