Senator Ottiano & Portsmouth Middle School present cyberbullying workshop

Senator Christopher S. Ottiano, (R-Dist. 11, Bristol, Portsmouth, Tiverton), in conjunction with Portsmouth Middle School, will sponsor a seminar on internet safety and social networking responsibility at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23.  The event will be held in the Portsmouth Middle School auditorium.

The program will provide information to parents and educators interested in protecting their children and students from cyberbullying, sexting, cybermobbing and online predators. Specific instruction will focus on how predators target students and what teachers, administrators, and parents can do to protect them.

“Families from any town are welcome to take advantage of this very informative lecture from a recognized expert in the area of Internet safety,” said Ottiano, who has extended the invitation to public and private schools in the area.

Topics discussed will also include the dangers of posting inappropriate pictures and messages on social networking sites, “sexting” and information on the consequences of poor behavior choices online. There will be a strong focus will be placed on Cyberbullying, Social Media and Sexting.

Dr. Lawrence P. Filippelli, who is widely considered to be the statewide expert on cyberbullying, sexting, and social media in the educational setting, will lead the program.  He is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Scituate, and is a former middle school principal and a recipient of the NASSP/MetLife Rhode Island Middle School Principal of the Year Award. Dr. Filippelli has consulted locally and nationally with districts on the topic of Social Networking . He has served on the Rhode Island Senate special commission on Cyberbullying Cyberthreats, and Sexting and currently serves as the RISSA representative on the RIEMA School Safety Advisory Board. He is widely considered to be the statewide expert on cyberbullying, sexting, and social media in the educational setting.