Do you know a teacher who builds a passionate culture of reading and writing in their classroom?

The Lisa's Legacy in Literature Award celebrates an educator each year who sparks hope and creativity in their classroom.

Illustration of a book with an owl on the cover, a red heart above it, and text reading 'Lisa's Legacy in Literature Award'

When you nominate an educator you are

A graduation cap decorated with a diploma rolled up and tied with a ribbon.

Celebrating exceptional educators everywhere.

Outlined heart with small lines around it.

Calling attention to the efforts of a unique educator who's changing the lives of young people

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Honoring the memory of Lisa Lizak, a teacher with a huge passion for making a difference & promoting a culture of writing in schools

What is the prize?

The winning educator will receive a total of $500 — $250 for writing supplies (children’s books, writing resources) and $250 to use however they like!

Award Timeline

Nominations accepted: March 31 — April 30
Award will be announced on: the 3rd Monday inMay.

Lisa Lizak wasn’t just any teacher.

A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, glasses, and a white top, smiling, sitting in a room with a wooden wall and shelves behind her, decorated with green and pink balloons and a framed picture.

For all her students and those who knew her best, Lisa was joy, fun, kindness, and learning.

Armed with a personal collection of over 2000 books and an iron-willed love of literature, Lisa made sure that every day of her students’ week was about learning.

Even during her own youth, she was known for a festive, creative spirit, writing plays and pulling together her neighborhood friends to take part in the excitement.

She also brought this passion for inclusion and creativity into her classroom, sharing that seed of hope and magic that every child deserves.

She spent countless hours planning for her students, but the real inspiration came when she would dress up in costume, regularly turn her classroom into an enchanted place, and ignite her students’ imaginations.

A classroom filled with young students and a teacher. The children are holding up signs that spell out "SECOND GRADE" and are smiling.

Really, Lisa was an educator driven by sharing everything she had with her students and her fellow teachers, even the drive to have fun.

After a long battle with cancer, Lisa was honored by her father with a quote during her funeral, a quote that touches many of us educators. As Dr. Seuss once said, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

And really, our effect as educators never truly ends, because it lives on, like Lisa’s impact lives on, in the lives of all the students, fellow educators, and friends who we’ve touched.

Today, with the Lisa’s Legacy in Literature Award, we honor her and the wonderful impact she had on countless young writers and readers throughout the years. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are we looking for?

A teacher that builds a culture, raises the standard, has a passion that’s simply contagious, and who would go to any length to inspire the next generation of writers and readers.

They should also infuse their classroom with the writing spirit. As they challenge their students to become even better writers, they also spark their young writers’ creativity while imparting confidence and excitement.

In short: they’re the kind of teacher you’d love to have when you were a young writer and learner.

How do you nominate an educator you know?

Tell us more about them! Answer the survey questions below and share your chosen educator with the team at Writing with Design. We’ll review your submission and announce the winner on May 15, every single year.

When is the nomination process and when will the winner be announced?

Nominations should be submitted between March 31-April 30. The winner will be announced on the 3rd Monday in May via Facebook, LinkedIn, and on our website.

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Nominate an educator who embodies the joy, creativity, and love of literacy Lisa brought to teaching.

Complete the form to submit your nomination.

Legacy Honorees

Meet our 2018 Winners:

Cat Watson & Dottie McGrady

Three women stand at the front of a room, holding certificates, in front of a bookshelf and colorful mural with musical notes and books. An audience sits facing them.
Three women smiling and holding certificates in a classroom or library setting with colorful posters and books in the background.

Meet our 2017 Winner:

Jennifer McCollum

Two women standing in front of a brick wall, one holding a certificate and both smiling, at an indoor event or school setting.

Jenny McCollum Accepting Lisa's Legacy Award with Mary Ernat 

In April, local Wayne teacher Jennifer McCollum was recognized with the Lisa’s Legacy Award for Educators for her efforts as an outstanding Michigan educator.

As a special education teacher at Roosevelt-McGrath Elementary, Jennifer’s energy has touched her entire school, from students to administrators and support staff to parents.

Her enthusiasm and excitement was hard to miss as she accepted Lisa’s Legacy Award alongside Mary Ernat, the school’s principal.