The Denton school district is presenting an event to help parents keep children safe in a high-tech world.
Parents are invited to a program on Internet safety and social networking at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Guyer High School. IF YOU GO
• What: Free program on Internet safety and social networking awareness• When: Two sessions on Tuesday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and 8 to 9:30 p.m.• Where: Guyer High School auditorium, 7501 Teasley Lane• Details: Must be 18 or older to attend. For more information, contact Amy Seago, Harpool Middle School PTA president, at 214-763-6356 or a_seago@hotmail.com .
"We're really hoping to fill the auditorium," said Amy Seago, president of the Harpool Middle School PTA, which is sponsoring the program. "I believe parents should make every effort to attend."
Two 90-minute information sessions will teach about issues such as online predators, cyberbullying and "sexting." Because of the content, attendees must be 18 or older.
The event's speaker is Katelyn LeClerc Greer, who offers Internet and technology safety training to schools, law enforcement agencies and other groups.
Seago heard Greer at a recent PTA conference and said she felt her knowledge was worth sharing. Seago said she hopes parents take away tools they can share with their children for using technology wisely and for preventing mistakes when using social networking sites.
"I think it's important we stay educated so that we keep our kids safe," she said.
"I hope that no matter the age of their children … they [parents] equip themselves with the information necessary to keep them [children] safe."
Greer, who is based in Vermont, works for the Department of Homeland Security. Her previous jobs include intelligence analyst for the Massachusetts State Police, Internet safety coordinator for the Massachusetts attorney general's office, and online safety director for WhatsWhat.me, a kids-only social networking site.
She said she plans to talk about what children are doing on the Internet and offer parents safety tips.
"A little education goes a long way," she said. "In this day and age, people can't afford not to attend. I think it's really important that all parents hear this information."
Mike Vance, Harpool Middle School principal, said parents may not be aware of many of the things children are doing online - and what could occur as a result.
"I just hope that they [parents] get a big picture of what's out there," Vance said. "We just hope we get a big crowd out there of parents doing what they can to help protect their children."
BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .
