School Presentations

In past generations, bullying was considered a “rite of passage” into young adulthood – a harsh but accepted part of adolescence.  Today, we understand that no child should be afraid to come to school and that anxiety and fear in the classroom only prevent learning from taking place. While educators play a significant role in bullying prevention, students are also an integral part of creating a kinder, more respectful school environment. In this engaging and interactive session, students will learn how to recognize bullying and will explore strategies for becoming an “upstander” – an individual who shows courage by supporting others who are being harmed.

AUDIENCE: Students in grades K-4 (primary version for grades K-2 differs from elementary version for grades 3-4)
DURATION: 30 minutes for grades K-2; 45 minutes for grades 3-4
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

This session works best as part of a comprehensive, school wide commitment to creating a positive school climate.

In past generations, bullying was considered a “rite of passage” into young adulthood – a harsh but accepted part of adolescence.  Today, we understand that no child should be afraid to come to school and that anxiety and fear in the classroom only prevent learning from taking place. While educators play a significant role in bullying prevention, students are also an integral part of creating a safer, more respectful school environment. In this engaging and interactive session, students will explore how to recognize bullying, support their peers, and respond with courage. They’ll leave empowered with the knowledge that even a small act of bravery and kindness can make a real difference in someone else’s life.

AUDIENCE: Secondary students
DURATION: 1 hour
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

This session works best as part of a comprehensive, school wide commitment to creating a positive school climate.

Even our youngest students are growing up in a world where digital life feels just as real as life on the playground. From sharing family photos to watching videos online, kids are exposed to situations that can put their privacy and safety at risk. In this engaging and interactive session, students will learn the basics of online safety: what personal information should stay private, how to recognize when something doesn’t feel right, and why trusted adults are their best allies. Through simple examples, photos, and stories, students will discover how to spot red flags, understand that not everything—or everyone—online is real, and practice making safe choices when they use technology.

AUDIENCE: Students in grades K-3
DURATION: 45 mins
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

While most social media platforms require a minimum age of 13 to create an account, research shows that almost 40% of tweens (ages 8 to 12) report using social media platforms like Snapchat, Instagram, and Discord and 64% watch online videos daily. This presents a host of safety concerns considering the prevalence of fake profiles, AI-altered images, and online scams. This interactive session, tackles the hidden dangers of digital life in an age-appropriate manner. Students will learn to spot red flags, protect their personal information, and recognize when something—or someone—isn’t what it seems. Practical tips and powerful stories will help students take control of their online safety and know what to do if something goes wrong.

AUDIENCE: Students in grades 3-4
DURATION: 45 minutes
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

In a world of fake profiles, AI-altered images, and online scams, staying safe online has never been more important. This interactive session tackles the hidden dangers of digital life: sextortion, catfishing, privacy breaches, and manipulation through gaming platforms and social media. Students will learn to spot red flags, protect their personal information, and recognize when something—or someone—isn’t what it seems. Practical tips and powerful stories will help students take control of their online safety and know what to do if something goes wrong.

AUDIENCE: Secondary students
DURATION: 1 hour
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

“IRL: Being Smart in a Digital World” and “IRL: Being Safe in a Digital World” can be offered separately or combined for a full-length 2-hour digital literacy experience.

From viral posts to vanished privacy, today’s children are growing up online. With digital life starting earlier than ever, it’s now common to see elementary students using personal devices and having their own social media profiles. This interactive workshop explores the realities of the digital world and the lasting impact of their digital footprints. Students will examine the boundaries of free speech, the effects of cyberbullying and oversharing, and how everyday online choices can shape both their school experience and future opportunities. They’ll also learn how to think critically before they post, comment, or share—and how to navigate online spaces with confidence, empathy, and awareness.

AUDIENCE: Students in grades 3 and 4
DURATION: 45 minutes
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

From viral posts to vanished privacy, today’s teens live much of their lives online — but are they ready for the long-term consequences? This interactive workshop dives into the realities of the digital world and the power and permanence of their digital footprint. From the boundaries and limitations of free speech, to the challenges of cyberbullying and oversharing, they will examine how everyday online choices can affect their current school experience and their future opportunities.  Students will learn how to think critically before they post, comment, or share, and how to navigate online spaces with confidence, empathy, and awareness.

AUDIENCE: Secondary students
DURATION: 1 hour
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

“IRL: Being Smart in a Digital World” and “IRL: Being Safe in a Digital World” can be offered separately or combined for a full-length 2-hour digital literacy experience.

E-cigarette use amongst youth is a serious public health crisis. Nicotine is harmful to developing brains and young users are more likely to get addicted quickly. Despite the FDA’s attempts to crack down on misleading labels and youth-focused marketing, tobacco companies continue to expand their offerings to appeal to young people and to perpetuate the belief that vaping is a safe alternative to smoking. This program is designed to raise awareness with younger teens about the dangers of vaping and nicotine addiction. Media literacy is introduced to encourage students to evaluate and understand messaging about e-cigarettes. Vaping consequences, which expand beyond just physical health, are explored and the program concludes with the message that the real cost of vaping is simply too high.

AUDIENCE: Middle school/Junior high school students
DURATION: 45 minutes
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

This session works best as part of a comprehensive, drug and alcohol prevention program.

This program begins by taking older youth on a journey back in time when tobacco companies had the public convinced that nicotine was not addictive. Once those early lies were exposed and teen cigarette sales plummeted, a creative concept emerged to attract a new generation of users – e-cigarettes. Today, every large tobacco company owns a vaping company. With clever marketing and youthful flavors and packaging, vaping has taken a foothold amongst teens and has created a public health crisis.  This program explores each of the major lies that tobacco companies are perpetuating today. Teens are encouraged to consider each myth with a critical eye so that they do not fall prey to the deceptive practices that have harmed the generations before us.

AUDIENCE: High school students
DURATION: 1 hour
FORMAT: Suitable for both large and small group settings

This session works best as part of a comprehensive, drug and alcohol prevention program.

This program focuses on the growing problem of prescription drug abuse among teenagers. The presentation features the story of a young man whose dependence on prescription drugs led him down an unexpected path of destruction.

A drug program for middle and high school students. Shane shares his true story of hard choices and near-death experiences due to drugs and alcohol. This is a reality check for all students and will open a unique dialogue about the realities of substance abuse.

Youth vaping remains a growing concern in schools, with e-cigarette companies continually evolving their tactics to target younger users. This workshop equips educators and school staff with basic knowledge about e-cigarettes, how nicotine impacts the developing adolescent brain, and why youth are especially vulnerable to addiction. Attendees will learn to identify stealth vaping devices that may be disguised as everyday items, recognize signs that a student may be vaping, and discuss appropriate steps schools can take to respond effectively and compassionately. By the end of the session, educators will be better prepared to support prevention efforts, intervene when necessary, and help students understand the real risks behind vaping.

AUDIENCE: School staff
DURATION: One hour
FORMAT: Any size group is acceptable, but small group seating is recommended

From viral trends to virtual threats, today’s students are growing up in a hyper-connected world where digital drama can quickly spill into the classroom. This essential workshop equips teachers and school staff with the knowledge to understand the online landscape their students are navigating, and the risks they face. Participants will explore the realities of teen social media usage, the impact on mental health, cyberbullying, the dangerous world of catfishing, and the serious legal consequences that can arise when mandated reporters learn about student sexting. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of their own digital responsibilities, the high-stakes implications of students’ online choices, and how to be a trusted, informed adult in a world where students increasingly turn to educators for support.

AUDIENCE: School staff
DURATION: 120 mins (recommended) for the full presentation; they can also opt for a two-part series (each one hour) is just one of the two parts. 
FORMAT: Any size group is acceptable but small group seating is recommended

PART 1 TOPICS –

• Social media usage and its impact
• Exploring what a digital footprint is
• Limitations to free speech - both for students and educators
• Cyberbullying and how that impacts a digital footprint
• How social media posts can come back to haunt us
• Understanding the dangers and criminality of sexting as well as the implications for mandated reporters

PART 2 TOPICS –

• What catfishing is and why people catfish
• How AI and deepfakes have contributed to false identities and scams
• Understanding sextortion – how it happens, motivating factors, and what platforms are used most often
• Helping students navigate digital danger zones

As parents and caregivers, we play a powerful role in helping children navigate the challenging social situations that inevitably arise during the K-12 school years. While we know that hardships can help develop resilience, we have to decipher when adult intervention is appropriate in order to prevent the avoidable childhood scars that many of us still carry with us.  This interactive workshop helps parents and caregivers better understand what bullying is (and what it isn’t), why it matters, and how it impacts everyone involved—including those who witness it. We’ll explore how to respond if you think your child is being bullied, if you’re concerned your child may be bullying others, or if they come to you after seeing it happen to someone else. With practical tools, conversation starters, and guidance on when and how to partner with your child’s school, this session empowers families to support their children with confidence and compassion—while helping to create safer, kinder school communities for all kids.

AUDIENCE: Parents and caregivers of students of any age
DURATION: 90 mins
FORMAT: Any size group is acceptable

Today’s kids are growing up in a world where a single post can go viral—and a single mistake can leave a lasting digital footprint. This eye-opening session gives families practical strategies to support children of all ages as they navigate social media, gaming platforms, and digital communication. We’ll uncover what kids are really encountering online—from cyberbullying to sexting and sextortion scams—and the legal and personal consequences that can follow. Families will gain conversation starters, safety tips, and response strategies to help children make wise, informed choices in a digital world that never sleeps.

AUDIENCE: Families of elementary and secondary students 
DURATION: 120 mins (recommended) for the full presentation; they can also opt for a two-part series (each one hour) is just one of the two parts. 

PART 1 TOPICS –

• Social media usage and its impact
• Exploring what a digital footprint is
• Limitations to free speech
• Cyberbullying and how that impacts your digital footprint
• How social media posts can come back to haunt us
• Understanding the dangers and criminality of sexting
• Tips for talking about sexting with teens

PART 2 TOPICS -

• REVIEW ITEMS FROM PART 1:
• Social media usage and its impact
• Understanding the dangers and criminality of sexting
• What catfishing is and why people catfish
• How AI and deepfakes have contributed to false identities and scams
• Understanding sextortion – how it happens, motivating factors, and what platforms are used most often
• Tips for talking about safe social media usage with kids