We recently connected with Lisa Collum and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission the drives your brand?

My mission has always been to support teachers and students in the area of writing proficiency. As a former public school teacher of 10 years and a mother of four, I witnessed firsthand the need for a comprehensive writing curriculum that would provide teachers with the resources they need to teach writing, and students with a methodology that is easy, fun, and effective. In this progressively digital age, developing competency in writing is increasingly challenging, but remains an important life skill.

Lisa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

It all began when I was a brand-new, twenty-one year-old teacher in a low performing school, tasked with teaching writing to fourth graders. Students in Florida as well as other states across the nation are given state writing assessments that measure a student’s ability to write a competent essay. State writing scores at my school were at the 38% proficiency mark when I started teaching, and while searching for ways to improve those results, I soon realized that unlike other subjects, a curriculum dedicated solely to writing instruction did not exist. In order to help my students, I developed my own writing lessons and was able to raise state writing scores at my school to 95% proficiency in the first year, and then 100% proficiency in the following two years. Due to the effectiveness of my writing program, word spread, and I was given a new position within my school district as a writing coach. When I left that position and became a full-time Florida Virtual School teacher, I began to receive regular inquiries about my writing lessons. It was then that I realized how sought after they were, and knew I needed to find away to get them into the hands of as many educators as possible.
What sets us apart is our effective, researched-based, comprehensive program for teaching writing as its own subject. Most writing instruction comes in the form of a minor supplement within a general English Language curriculum. What Top Score Writing provides is a complete curriculum dedicated solely to writing. Everything the teacher needs is all in one place including daily step-by-step lessons, activities, homework, prompts, reading passages and practice exams. Teachers, who already have too much on their plates, can simply follow the daily program without the need to hunt down multiple resources. All the planning and work is done for them, removing the stress of having to create something from scratch and allowing them to focus on teaching.
The best part is the curriculum works. The lessons I developed follow a researched-based and strategic methodology, using two key elements for learning: repetition and practice. The students learn in bite-sized chunks, one skill building upon the next, leading to mastery. Our system works for students of all skill levels and has been proven to raise scores an average of 70%.
In addition to our hard copy and digital materials, we also provide digital licensing, online resources, animated and teacher-taught video lessons, PowerPoint grammar lessons, and training and support for teachers and schools.
What I am most proud of is, through it all, I have stuck to my mission to help teachers and students and grew this business because I believed in it. All I ever dreamed of being was a teacher. I never even imagined I would build the business I have today. I stuck to my mission and my belief despite every obstacle and naysayer.

Let’s move on to buying businesses – can you talk to us about your experience with business acquisitions?

Yes, I have. About 17 years ago, I became aware of a small private school with a track record of helping children succeed who were not previously flourishing for various reasons in a traditional school setting. I visited the school and it made a lasting impression on me. I told the owner if he ever wished to sell, to please contact me. We stayed in touch, and about six years ago, the owner called to tell me he was selling his school. I acquired it without students or faculty and had to rebuild it from scratch, with only the name and accreditation remaining. I built the school back up slowly, one student at a time, limiting the final number to 50 because I believe each student has a story, and I want to remember it. We provide individualized, project-based learning for students in grades 6 to 12, ensuring that each and every one of them finds success.
The acquisition process was relatively simple, but the learning curve as the new owner was steep. I purchased the school as S corporation and turned it into a 501C3 non-profit. I had to learn how to become an administrator, hire and lead staff, accept state scholarships, and meet all the requirements necessary to run an accredited school.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes, my business, Top Score Writing, began as a side hustle that has turned into a seven-figure enterprise. As mentioned earlier, it sprang from a need I had as a public school teacher to find a way to simply and effectively teach my students how to write, not only to pass the State Writing Assessment, but as a lifelong skill. The lessons I created substantially increased writing scores, and when by word-of-mouth they became increasingly in demand, I knew I had the seeds of a business in my hands. With $100 to invest, I took the first small step and had copies of my lessons printed at an office supply store. Together with my growing family, I hole-punched copies, put them in binders, and shipped orders out at the post office.
During the first four years, I continued to work full-time as a Florida Virtual School teacher while I grew my side hustle. My first big milestone occurred when I began receiving larger orders from schools and entire districts instead of only individual teachers. I always encourage beginning entrepreneurs to scale up, but have the patience to go slow.
Other milestones include year six, when I began building a team consisting of a Vice President and teachers in search of part-time work to supplement their incomes. In the seventh year, I hired a curriculum director, and in year eight, a sales director. Ten years later, Top Score Writing now employs over twenty people.
It was during years six through eight that we became a nationwide company, and I often say the following: Investing in your business builds your business. By building a team and expanding my products, we are now in twenty-seven states nationwide and are working to expand into all fifty.
As a teacher, spouse, and mother of four who grew a small side hustle into a seven-figure business, I hope my story will inspire other women to stand firm in their mission and believe in what’s possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisacollum.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lisacollumceo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisacollumceo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisacollumceo
• Twitter: @lisacollumceo