Indy Standard

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) has launched an Alumni Spotlight series to celebrate its graduates and their varied life paths. Linda Lewis-Everett, a 1979 graduate of Shortridge High School, recently shared her journey that began within the state's largest school district.

After graduation, Lewis-Everett served in the U.S. military and held several positions, including one with the United States Postal Service. In 2019, she published "I Still Hear the Drums," a novel about a young woman's experience of being captured and enslaved from Africa to America.

Currently, Lewis-Everett is the CEO of Boundless Blessings, a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding impoverished communities worldwide. Her team recently visited Nairobi, Kenya, to provide personal hygiene products to young girls and plans to distribute book bags in Jamaica this December.

Reflecting on her time at IPS, Lewis-Everett said: "My experiences shaped my hopes and expectations for the future! My education at Shortridge made me believe that my possibilities were endless."

She credited Mrs. Jacqueline Greenwood as a memorable teacher who impacted her during freshman algebra: "Before that class, I hated math, but she showed me a new way to approach problems—an invaluable lesson both inside and outside the classroom."

Lewis-Everett emphasized the influence of her IPS education on her development: "I have always been proud to say I received a top-tier education from IPS. It gave me a seamless transition into adult life."

She highlighted interpersonal skills as particularly valuable: "The most important skill I gained at IPS was learning how to interact with people who didn’t look like me. That skill has been invaluable in all of my post-high school positions."

Addressing challenges faced during her time at IPS, she noted: "The biggest challenge I faced was staying focused! I had many friends and got distracted at times."