Source: Lapp, Linda. “Promising progress in Ind. Classrooms” Journal & Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 16 August 1994; p. 10; newspapers.com
Before there was SDI Innovations, before there were custom planners used by thousands of schools across the country, there was one woman with a typewriter, a kitchen table, and a mission to help students stay organized. Her name was Sharon Powers, and her vision laid the foundation for everything that SDI Innovations is today.
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of School Datebooks, we’re taking time to reflect on the woman who started it all and the legacy that still shapes how we work, grow, and serve others.
From Kitchen Table to Nationwide Impact
In 1985, Sharon Powers began creating student planners from her home in Lafayette, Indiana. She didn’t have a staff or a warehouse. Just a deep belief in the power of organization and a passion for helping educators (and some in the office think the idea for a datebook was motivated by her son’s inability to keep track of his assignments, although those claims have never been substantiated).
With a strong work ethic and a whole lot of determination, she did everything herself – answering phones, folding pages, and packing shipments. Each planner she sent out was a personal commitment to a school and its students.
Scaling a Vision, One Planner at a Time
Sharon’s practical solutions and attention to detail quickly gained traction. Her one-woman startup grew steadily, and soon, she needed more space, more equipment, and more help to meet demand.
Her son, Tim Powers, joined the business and helped scale operations, turning School Datebooks into a national brand. But even as it expanded, the company stayed true to Sharon’s original mission: support students by helping them stay organized and stress-free.
A Family Legacy, Continued
As School Datebooks evolved, so did its reach. Under the SDI Innovations umbrella, the company launched and supported new brands – Eventlink®, STEM Education Works, Ag Printers – all with the same foundational values Sharon brought to her very first product.
Though Sharon passed away in 2023, her spirit is still present in every planner we print, every school we support, and every solution we build. Her story is a reminder that big change can start with one small, thoughtful idea and a whole lot of grit.
Honoring 40 Years of Impact
Today, SDI Innovations is proud to serve schools and businesses across the country. But our success always points back to Sharon’s kitchen table. She taught us what it means to serve others, show up with integrity, and create tools that truly make a difference.
This Mother’s Day, and every day, we celebrate moms, mentors, and makers like Sharon Powers, who build legacies that last.
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SDI Innovations has market access, global manufacturing, capital, and experience that few other companies can provide. The combination of an in-house marketing agency, an aggressive sales department, and knowledgeable customer service representatives accelerates SDI Innovations’ brands with best-in-class promotion and follow-through. Plus, in-house IT and production capabilities, coupled with our global manufacturing reach and top-of-the-line logistics, keep SDI Innovations on the cutting edge of innovation. Learn more about what we do through our socials: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.