February 11, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Redmond, Wash. – The Lake Washington School District is hosting a series of presentations with Internet safety expert Linda Criddle to help parents keep their families safe in the constantly changing virtual world. Different sessions provide information aimed at parents of elementary students and at parents of junior high and high school students. Criddle encourages parents to bring their children to the presentation, so that both parents and children hear this information together.

A 13-year Microsoft veteran, Criddle is the author of the award-winning book “Look Both Ways - Help Protect Your Child on the Internet.” She has written an online credited course entitled “Internet Safety for Educators” for Washington State University. She is currently working on a complete K-12 Internet safety curriculum.

This presentation is not your common “10-tips for Internet Safety,” and is not intended to instill fear of Internet use by school-aged children. Instead, participants will acquire a deeper understanding of:

• Why Internet safety is not a teen issue. Everyone faces online safety issues; even those who don’t personally use the Internet
• The landscape of online risk; what factors create an environment ripe for abuse
• How to identify the information you are really exposing online; not just what you think you’re exposing
• How to think like a predator and how to avoid their traps for financial, emotional or physical exploitation
• How to manage life on the Web and the impact of information permanence
• Why the victims of cybercrimes are NEVER at fault
• How to create a realistic positive dialog about online safety with others

To read more about Internet safety, go to Linda’s Web site.

Upcoming Presentation Dates:

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About Lake Washington School District
The Lake Washington School District is the sixth largest district in the state of Washington. It has more than 23,000 students in 49 schools located in Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington.