TAMPA, FL — Lisa Lawson, a Master Teacher with the Gus A. Stavros Center for Free Enterprise and Economic Education at the ×îÐÂÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s College of Education, has been selected by the Council for Economic Education to receive the 2026 John Morton Excellence in the Teaching of Economics Award at the elementary school level.
This national award recognizes educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching economics and help students develop the knowledge and skills needed for future success.
Bringing economics to life
Lawson is committed to making economics engaging and relevant for her elementary students. For the past five years, she has coached fourth-grade economics teams, including a team that placed fourth in district competition. She also incorporates programs such as My Classroom Economy and the Stock Market Challenge to help students develop real-world economic and financial skills.
Her impact also extends to educators across Florida. As a Stavros Center Master Teacher, Lisa leads engaging, hands-on professional development workshops for K–12 teachers, sharing classroom strategies and resources that can be put into practice immediately. Through these workshops, she helps educators bring economics and financial literacy to life for their own students.
Lisa has also presented at state conferences, volunteered with entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs in the Tampa Bay area and twice received the Florida Council on Economic Education’s REEL Award.
The Stavros Center congratulates Lisa Lawson on this well-deserved national recognition and celebrates her continued commitment to helping teachers and students build a stronger understanding of economics and financial literacy.