The Business of Education | S01E15 | Lisa Collum

Summary

Lisa Collum, an educator and entrepreneur, shares her journey of starting a successful curriculum development company and a non-profit school. She discusses the challenges she faced, including being investigated by the Department of Education, and how those experiences fueled her mission to prove that all students can succeed. Lisa emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction, repetition, and practice in teaching writing skills. She also talks about the process of scaling her business and the need to invest in people to drive growth. Lisa's passion for education and her commitment to making a difference in students' lives shine through in this inspiring conversation.

Takeaways

- Challenges can be opportunities for growth and innovation.

- Explicit instruction, repetition, and practice are key to teaching writing skills effectively.

- Scaling a business requires investing in people and being open to letting go of control.

- Passion and a mission to make a difference are powerful motivators in education and entrepreneurship.

- Non-profit organizations can provide valuable resources and support to underserved communities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Lisa's Background

07:12 Scaling a Business: Investing in People

15:38 Expanding Nationwide: Common Needs, Different Approaches

25:24 Getting Involved with Coastal Middle and High School

About Lisa

Lisa Collum is a seasoned educator with extensive experience in English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum development. She is the visionary behind Top Score Writing, an innovative educational platform specializing in ELA curriculums for students from grades 2 to 12. As a keynote speaker, she inspires women entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and build successful businesses, serving as a role model for aspiring leaders in the education industry.

One of Lisa's proudest achievements includes increasing student proficiency on state writing assessments from 38% to 95% in the first year, and then to 100% for the following two years. Her expertise lies in curriculum development, starting with the creation of a systematic writing curriculum while teaching in a low-performing Title I school, which led to significant improvements in student writing proficiency.

Connect with Lisa

Facebook [@lisa.collum.9]
Instagram: [@lisacollumceo]
LinkedIn: [@lisacollumceo]
Company Instagram Account: [@topscorewriting]
Company Website: [topscorewriting.com]
Website Mentioned: [coastalmiddleandhighschool.com]