Mike Minter

Whatever God gives to you is not for you ... and that's pretty much how I run my life. It's that the things He's given to me are to help people grow, help people see the greatness in God and what He can do in people's lives ... taking a little boy from Oklahoma and letting him see the world.

— Mike Minter

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

Retired Carolina Panthers player and successful businessman Mike Minter will be the keynote speaker at Thursday's Education Summit at Jesse Carson High School.

Minter will speak on "Education ... It's Your Business," which is the topic of the third summit sponsored by Rowan Partners for Education. The public is invited to attend the 6 p.m. presentation.

Millbridge Elementary School teacher April Williamson will also be speaking, offering words of inspiration. The presentation will be followed by a reception, during which Minter will be selling and signing his book, "Driven by Purpose ... The Power of a Dream."

Rowan Partners for Education will also be selling $25 chances to win a football autographed by Minter as a fundraiser.

Executive Director Louise Wooten said each of the 35 schools in the Rowan-Salisbury School System will have sign-up sheets for people to volunteer during the reception. "We're trying to capture folks while they're excited and want to help," she said, "and really just encourage them to get involved in some capacity."

Wooten said Rowan Partners for Education has polled principals at all of the schools to find out what their volunteer needs are. "They range anywhere from being a reading buddy to being an office helper to being with students while teachers take duty-free lunches," she said.

Other needs include chaperones for school dances, judges for graduation projects, people to help clear a nature trail, book fair volunteers and someone to put books on the school's library.

"One school's even looking for a PTA president and vice president," Wooten said. "We're hoping people will say (for example), 'I live in the North Rowan area. These are my skills and time commitments. What can I do?' "

The purpose of Rowan Partners for Education is to educate the public about public education, she said. "This particular summit is to get our community involved and to feel ownership."

It takes the community and schools working together to ensure that students get the best education possible, Wooten said.

Thursday's Education Summit is being sponsored by Cheerwine, Dixon Hughes Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, F&M Bank, Piedmont Natural Gas, Rebecca Jones Realty, Rowan Regional Medical Center, SunTrust Bank, Community One Bank and Community Bank of Rowan.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.