Digital Dangers: What Families Need to Know with Ms. Angie Kotula, Dr. Lou Nagy and School Resource Officer Chris Miller

In this episode, we’re talking about online dangers that students can potentially face, including sextortion and cyberbullying. We’ll hear from school leaders and one of our School Resource Officers about how these issues impact students, ways to stay safe, the importance of understanding your digital footprint, and what steps to take if you or someone you know is targeted.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE WILL REVIEW

• Sextortion, cyberbullying and the misuse of AI-generated images
• Legal consequences of sextortion and cyberbullying
• Steps students, parents and educators can take to prevent sextortion and how to respond if it happens
• Ways students can protect themselves from online scams, predators or sextortion
• Reporting tools
  • Sprigeo
  • Takeitdown
  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Overview

SPECIAL GUESTS
Ryan Gloyer Middle School (RGMS) librarian Ms. Angie Kotula, tech facilitator Dr. Lou Nagy and School Resource Officer Chris Miller

Ms. Angie Kotula is in her 18th of teaching at Seneca Valley. She has taught second grade, 7th grade English and is currently the librarian at RGMS. Ms. Kotula graduated of both Robert Morris University and Edinboro University where she received a Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Education. She holds certifications in K-6 Elementary Education, 7-9 and 7-12 English, K-12 Reading Specialist, and K-12 Library. Additionally, she has received numerous online-safety certifications from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and has taken a graduate level course in digital citizenship. She is a current member of the digital citizenship committee at Seneca Valley and has years of experience teaching middle school students about online safety alongside local law enforcement and building colleagues.

Dr. Lou Nagy is currently in his 37th year at Seneca Valley. He began his career at SV as a Biology Teacher for General Biology, Advanced Biology and AP Biology. As Seneca Valley began incorporating technology into the classroom, Dr. Nagy left teaching Biology and became one of the first technology facilitators, a role that he continues in today. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Molecular Biology from Westminster College and obtained his Master of Arts in Teaching as well as his doctorate with a concentration in Instructional Technology from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to his tenure at Seneca Valley, Dr. Nagy has taught Biology at Highlands High School and Duquesne University in the department of Educational Technology and Leadership.

Officer Chris Miller has been a Police Officer employed by the Jackson Township Police Department for the last 17 years. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Police Academy Class #63.