In 2011, Lisa Collum, a fourth-grade teacher in Florida, had just $99 left in her bank account. Instead of feeling defeated, she saw an opportunity. Collum spent her last dollars at OfficeMax, buying five binders and filling them with copies of a writing curriculum she had developed.
She labeled each one "Top Score Writing by Lisa Collum" and sold them to local schools. Those five binders soon turned into 10, then twenty and eventually, orders flooded in by the hundreds, all packaged in her living room with her children's help.
Don't Miss:
- This Adobe-backed AI marketing startup went from a $5 to $85 million valuation working with brands like L'Oréal, Hasbro, and Sweetgreen in just three years – here's how there's a limited time opportunity to invest at $1,000 for only $0.50/share before closing date.
- ‘Scrolling to UBI': Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones – invest today with $1,000 for just $0.25/share
Today, Collum, now 41, leads Top Score Writing as its CEO. Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the company provides K-12 writing curricula and consulting services across the U.S., serving thousands of schools and teachers.
The company's success reflects Collum's early work with fourth-grade students, many of whom are English language learners struggling with structured writing.
She found that a clear, step-by-step method for crafting essays helped students gain confidence and dramatically boosted test scores. Within a few years, her side hustle was generating more income than her $40,000 teaching salary and in 2015, Collum decided to make Top Score Writing her full-time focus.
Trending: The global games market is projected to generate $272B by the end of the year — for $0.55/share, this VC-backed startup with a 7M+ userbase gives investors easy access to this asset market.
Starting Top Score Writing wasn't part of Collum's original plan. When a school principal asked if she'd sell her curriculum, Collum joked that she "didn't have an ounce of business sense." But the demand was undeniable.
According to CNBC reports, within just a few years, she had hired six full-time employees and 10 part-time staff and Top Score Writing was raking in nearly $1.9 million annually.
Her journey from classroom teacher to CEO wasn't without challenges. Collum's curriculum quickly caught the attention of the Florida Department of Education after her students' test scores skyrocketed, leading to two separate investigations at her school.
Trending: Warren Buffett once said, "If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die." These high-yield real estate notes that pay 7.5% – 9% make earning passive income easier than ever.
But the results spoke for themselves: Collum's writing methods consistently led to impressive improvements and she eventually became a writing specialist for her district before leaving to focus on her side business.
The expansion of Top Score Writing was largely fueled by word-of-mouth. In 2016, Collum took her materials online, increasing accessibility for schools nationwide. Today, her curricula range from $125 to $625 depending on grade level and added services.
See Also: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – You can still get 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $1,000
Initially aimed at Title I schools – those serving students from low-income families – the curriculum has since gained traction in other types of schools.
Still, Collum's structured approach to writing has its critics. Some educators and parents feel the format limits creativity and focuses too heavily on test preparation. At least one major contract was lost due to such concerns, but Collum defends her approach, saying that every student needs to understand the basics before they can dive into creative expression.
Through her journey, Collum has learned when to trust her instincts, acknowledging that confidence doesn't come easily. "The first five years were tough," she admits. "But now, I know how to roll with the punches and stick to what I know works for students."
Read Next:
- Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — you can become an investor for $0.80 per share today.
- With over 7.8K investors including Meta, Google, And Amazon Execs — this AI Startup's valuation has skyrocketed from $5 million to $85 million in just three years. Be an early investor with just $1,000 for only $0.50/share today before the offer closes in 2 weeks.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.