Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D. has degrees in special education and law. She taught emotionally disturbed students, worked in the area of computer law and then shifted to educational technology planning. As students started using the Internet, Nancy found there was a need for professional insight into digital safety that combined expertise in youth risk, technology use, and legal issues.
Nancy’s professional sites are Embrace Civility in the Digital Age and Be Positively Powerful.
Nancy was the author of the first book ever published that addressed issues of cyberbullying, Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Cruelty, Threats, and Distress (2007, Research Press). Along this path, Nancy realized that it is impossible to address issues of bullying using a 20th Century “rules and punishment” approach.
Nancy has dedicated the last several years conducting an in-depth analysis of research documenting the concerns associated with current bullying prevention approach, which has shown no indications of effectiveness as well as research associated with building youth resilience, influencing positive behavior, and increasing positive peer intervention.
Nancy promotes a 21st Century approach by focusing on ensuring a positive climate, engaging young people as full participants in building positive relations, increasing youth capacity to independently prevent and resolve hurtful situations, and strategies for adults to better resolve negative incidents in a positive and restorative manner.
Nancy is also the author of Cyber-Safe Kids, Cyber-Savvy Teens: Helping Your Child Use the Internet Safely and Responsibly (2007, Jossey Bass) and Cyber Savvy Students: Embracing Digital Safety and Civility (2011, Corwin Press).
She published these books on Amazon:
Engage Students to Embrace Civility
Be Positively Powerful: A Guide for Teens on Achieving Resilience and Empowerment
Be Positively Powerful: Resilient When Things Get Tough
Sea Positivamente Poderoso: Ser resiliente cuando las cosas se ponen difíciles
Her articles on bullying have appeared in District Administration, the American Association of School Administrator’s magazine, School Administrator, and the National Association of School Psychologist’s magazine, Communique.