Lake County Gazette

Cyberbullying, sextortion, and online predators are issues affecting students across the country, including those in Lake County’s Grayslake Community High School District 127. Recent studies highlight growing risks for children online, prompting a 2023 warning from the U.S. Surgeon General about teens’ use of social media.

Statistics show that nearly half of U.S. teens have experienced bullying or harassment online, while 16% of teens aged 13–17 report some form of online sexual abuse. Additionally, many teens say social media negatively affects their sleep and productivity, with teen girls reporting significant impacts on mental health.

“These statistics are alarming, but they’re also a call to action. Our students need support, boundaries, and trusted adults who understand what they’re up against,” said Superintendent Dr. Mikkel Storaasli.

“As a district, we believe in empowering our families with the same urgency and care that we provide inside our classrooms,” Dr. Storaasli added. “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.”

To address these concerns, Grayslake District 127 will host two Internet Safety for Parents sessions led by nationally recognized cyber safety expert Jesse Weinberger. The events are open to all community parents and guardians regardless of their child’s age or school affiliation:

- 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 sessions due to the sensitive nature of the topics discussed.

Attendees can expect presentations tailored to each school’s student data—Central student responses at the Central event and North student responses at the North event—collected anonymously ahead of time.

During the school day prior to these seminars, students will attend assemblies where Jesse Weinberger will discuss digital safety topics relevant to their grade level. She will cover how online behavior impacts safety, privacy, mental health, and ways students can make safer choices online.

At the family seminars in the evening, Weinberger will share strategies for protecting children from internet dangers and setting digital boundaries at home.

A previous attendee commented on her experience: “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 continued: “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.”

Jesse Weinberger is known nationally as an internet safety speaker and TEDx presenter who has worked with over 1,000 schools as well as law enforcement groups and parent organizations.

Grayslake Community High School District 127 includes both Grayslake Central High School and Grayslake North High School within Lake County (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/), District 127 employs nearly 200 teachers with an average salary approaching $80,000; its teaching staff is majority female with low absenteeism rates among educators.

The district serves a diverse population—58.5 percent White students alongside Black (4.3 percent), Hispanic (25 percent), and Asian (7.2 percent) communities (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020 it spent $31,874 per student for a total expenditure exceeding $88 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).

The upcoming internet safety events aim to equip families across this diverse district with information needed to help keep children safe while navigating today’s digital world.