Lake County Gazette

Cyberbullying, sextortion, and online predators are risks facing students in many communities, including those served by Grayslake Community High School District 127. National data shows that 46% of U.S. teens have experienced online bullying or harassment, while 16% of teens ages 13–17 report some form of online sexual abuse. Many students also report that social media affects their sleep and productivity, with teen girls especially likely to say it negatively impacts their mental health.

Superintendent Dr. Mikkel Storaasli commented on the district’s response: “As a district, we believe in empowering our families with the same urgency and care that we provide inside our classrooms. This work reflects our Portrait of a Learner, helping students become principled and resilient in both their online and offline lives. We are proud to partner with parents by bringing in Jesse Weinberger in this important effort to protect and support our learners.”

Grayslake District 127 will host two Internet Safety for Parents sessions led by cyber safety expert Jesse Weinberger. These events are open to all community parents and guardians regardless of school or child age:

- Grayslake Central: Monday, August 25 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Theatre

- Grayslake North: Tuesday, August 26 | 6:30 - 8:00 pm | Fieldhouse

No RSVP is required for these adults-only events due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed.

Attendees will hear from Weinberger about dangers on internet platforms as well as strategies for protecting children online. Each session will include anonymously collected student responses specific to each school.

During the school day, students will attend grade-level assemblies where Weinberger will present on digital safety topics including privacy and smart choices online.

A parent who previously attended a session said: “Jesse Weinberger’s presentation was truly eye-opening. I had no idea how dangerous so many popular platforms were for my kids. Her talk didn’t just change how I approach parenting around technology; it changed how I interact online myself.” The attendee added, “Because of what I learned, I feel more confident coaching my children to have a safer, more positive experience online. It’s been years since I attended, and I still think about her message regularly. I’m so grateful for the awareness and practical tools she gave us as parents. I highly encourage every parent to attend.”

Weinberger is recognized nationally as an internet safety speaker and author who has worked with over a thousand schools and organizations.

Grayslake Community High School District 127 includes Grayslake Central High School and Grayslake North High School in Lake County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), the district employs nearly 200 teachers earning an average salary above $79,000 per year; its teaching staff is approximately evenly split between men and women with high attendance rates among teachers.

The student population is diverse—58.5 percent White, 4.3 percent Black, 25 percent Hispanic, and 7.2 percent Asian (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020, per-student spending was $31,874 for a total budget exceeding $88 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).