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For the past five years, the Macomb School District,  has been my employer. Working in both the Junior/Senior High and Elementary Schools, I supervise the computer labs, create and implement lesson plans for the 500 children who utilize the lab every week, and provide technical support to staff and students.

In 2004, while researching information for a school keyboarding committee, I began looking into issues concerning children online. It became apparent there was a definite need for Internet Safety education in our area. Since children need to be educated and made aware of potential dangers and threats that may confront them online, I developed a personalized Internet Safety curriculum for the elementary School 2nd and 3rd grade students. For four weeks, the children learned basic Internet Safety utilizing highly interactive lessons. This fall, the lessons were expanded to seven weeks, delving into important issues that were not covered last year, including cyber bullying. In the months that followed, due to the hard work and dedication by many, Internet Safety education has expanded to other schools in my District.

This fall, I was named to a newly created position,  the Regional Office of Education’s Internet Safety Coordinator. The first task on my agenda, was to form a committee and the M.O.S.T. (Macomb Online Safety Team) was born and I am Chairperson of that wonderful team.  This is a group of hard-working individuals who have come together to help educate the community, and each other, in order to spread the word regarding online safety issues.  As a team, our first assignment was to put together a Internet Safety Parental Night, which was held January 31st.  We had a variety of presenters, including myself, Miss Illinois emceed our event and Miss Illinois American Teen assisted. Our honorable Mayor proclaimed the day "Macomb Internet Safety Day" and I held an online safety assembly earlier in the afternoon with the 2nd and 3rd graders.  Considering we had a blast of snow and a Junior High basketball game to contend with, we have an awesome turnout!

For the past two years, I have devoted many hours researching Internet Safety issues as well as participating in on-going training. I also write a regular newspaper column regarding Internet Safety issues and concerns.  As each of my goals are becomming reality, my next project is an anti-cyber bullying campaign, something very close to my heart.

As a parent of two teenagers, a former police dispatcher, someone who works with hundreds of children in a computer environment every week, and someone who has spear-headed Internet Safety awareness in my area, I hope to provide a unique perspective that will empower you with insight and the tools to keep your children safer online.