Nancy Berg, MSW
Nancy Berg serves as the Assistant Director at the Montana Safe Schools Center housed at the University of Montana. In this role, Ms. Berg is involved in overseeing all fiscal management of grant and non-grant accounts as well as training and implementation of school safety goals and objectives. The Montana Safe School Center’s (MSSC) mission is to provide outreach regarding school safety; all-hazards management; suicide; bullying; emergency and crisis prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery in early childhood programs, P/K-12, and institutions of higher education. Ms. Berg holds her Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and is currently working towards her clinical social work licensure. Ms. Berg is a certified master trainer in the Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK) suicide prevention protocols. She has been trained in the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol, Standard Reunification Method, and the ALERRT Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course. Ms. Berg provides training and consultation on emergency operations planning, school physical site safety, educator well-being and happiness, trauma-informed practice, trauma stewardship, and Montana’s Crisis Action School Toolkit on Suicide.
Jason Davis, AIA, NCARB
Principal | Partner
SMA Architecture + Design
As a Principal and Partner of SMA Architecture + Design, P.C., Jason’s twenty-one-year career has included K-12, higher education, commercial, and historic projects. Jason is involved in every step of project development from pre-bond planning, educational specifications, and conceptual design to the resulting elementary, middle school, high school, and athletic facility construction. Jason’s experience and passion for educational design, 21st-century learning environments, and school safety and security are an integral part of the successful delivery of school projects that achieve a school district’s programmatic needs, budget, and schedule objectives. He has worked with the Butte School District, East Helena School District, and Clancy School on their recent school planning and construction projects.
Tina Hayes
Tina Hayes is the University of Montana Safe School Center’s Training and Technical Assistance Specialist. She earned a BA in Human Biological Sciences, a BS in Business Administration, and a Master’s in Health Administration. She brings to the center a wealth of experience, including almost a decade of emergency management, ten years of behavioral health, and five years of experience working directly with schools.
Tammy Tolleson Knee, LCSW, EdS
Tammy Tolleson Knee serves as the School Support Liaison at the Montana Safe Schools Center (MSSC) within the University of Montana’s College of Education and is the director of VAST (Virtually Assisted School Teams) and the School Attendance Research Project. With over 30 years of experience as a licensed school counselor and clinical social worker, Tammy has worked across three states in diverse educational and community-based settings, focusing on youth wellness and safety. Tammy is a board-certified tele-mental health therapist and a certified trainer with the I Love U Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol and Reunification. She is also a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor, holds certification from NABITA in the Structured Interview for Violence Risk Assessment (SIVRA-35), and is a trainer in Opioid Overdose Prevention. Her expertise spans behavioral threat assessment and management, crisis response, de-escalation, and standard safety protocols. In addition to her professional roles, Tammy has supervised numerous graduate-level interns and taught both undergraduate and graduate courses. Outside of her professional life and her playful pranks with colleagues, Tammy enjoys hiking, spending time with family, watching movies, and roping her husband into her next big idea.
Ali Martin, AIA, NCARB
Associate Principal | Education Lead | Architect
SMA Architecture + Design
As part of the leadership team at SMA, Ali has been involved in many K-12 and higher education projects while at SMA. She is passionate about creating inviting and safe communities in the school environment that promote learning and student well-being. Recent educational projects include Belgrade Elementary School, East Middle School, Butte Elementary School Safety and Security Upgrades, East Helena High School, Central Elementary School, Monforton School Master Plan, and the Helena School District Facilities Master Plan.
Christa Rowland
Christa Rowland believes in the power of uniting communities to create a brighter future for all children. Before joining the IEL team, Christa was the Director of Community Impact at the United Way of Treasure Valley in Boise, Idaho. She helped grow the system of community schools in Idaho, founded the Idaho Community School Learning Network, and co-founded the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools.
Christa began her career as a music educator, teaching hundreds of students the joy of creating music. She holds a master's degree in public administration, a graduate certificate in nonprofit administration, and bachelor’s degrees in music education and violin performance.
John Sommers-Flanagan
John Sommers-Flanagan is the director of the PJW Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) and a professor of counseling at the University of Montana and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including nine books and many professional training videos. His books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Clinical Interviewing (7th ed., Wiley, 2024), Tough Kids, Cool Counseling (2nd ed., ACA, 2007), and Suicide Assessment and Treatment Planning: A Strengths-Based Approach (ACA, 2021). He has published articles or commentaries in the New England Journal of Medicine, American Psychologist, Professional Psychology, and the Journal of Counseling and Development. In 2018, he produced a three-part, 7.5-hour suicide assessment and treatment training video for mental health professionals with Psychotherapy.net. John’s current work primarily involves promoting an evidence-informed, strengths-based learning model designed to grow student and teacher strengths, skills, resources, and virtues, rather than growing more mental disorders (which we have enough of). In his wild and precious spare time, John loves to run (slowly), dance (poorly), laugh (loudly), and produce homemade family music videos. You can learn more about John and Rita’s latest venture, the Montana Happiness Project.
Dr. Ashley Boal
Dr. Ashley Boal is a Senior Research Associate II for the Justice and Prevention Research Center at WestEd. She brings over 15 years of experience conducting research and evaluation studies across a diverse range of content areas including education, criminal justice, violence against women, and mental and physical health. Dr. Boal’s work is grounded in the assumption that student achievement and success go beyond focusing on academic content knowledge—it is imperative that students feel safe and supported in their home and school environments to live happy and healthy lives.
At WestEd, Dr. Boal leads a variety of projects focused on school safety, school climate, and comprehensive supports for students. Currently, she directs a National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-funded evaluation of training provided by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), the largest training provider of SROs in the United States. She also leads projects examining the implementation and impact of community schools initiatives, school-based behavioral health supports, and student and family supports to address chronic absenteeism. Her prior work includes NIJ-funded studies focused on state school safety centers and training for law enforcement, as well as studies to support improvements in school climate and the use of whole-child approaches. Her work has been published in prominent academic journals including Psychological Assessment, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, American Journal of Community Psychology, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Journal of Applied Juvenile Justice Services, and Violence and Victims.
Dr. Boal obtained her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine and both her master’s degree and doctoral degree in Applied Psychology from Portland State University.
Hailey Gutowsky
Hailey is a certified health educator and Bridgercare’s Community Education Coordinator. Bridgercare is Montana’s largest reproductive and sexual health nonprofit that provides medically accurate, developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and values-neutral care and education across a range of services and topics – all on sliding fee scale so no one is turned away based on ability to pay. Through her background in public health, she has experience in maternal health, advocacy in medical settings, and trauma-informed youth education. In her current role, she provides professional development trainings for educators, providers, businesses, and faith leaders on how to create safe spaces and services for the LGBTQ+ community throughout the state of Montana. The Community Education Program and its curriculum was built in partnership with Montana teachers, administrators, and local LGBTQ+ allies to ensure a high standard of care and accuracy and is taught with professionals who have experience working with LGBTQ+ populations.
Dylan Wright
Dylan Wright is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed School Counselor in the state of Montana. He serves as the Wellness Education Coordinator for Families First, a nonprofit in Missoula, MT, providing group facilitation, parenting consultations, and public presentations on parenting education and well-being. He also commits a great deal of time and energy to developing programs, providing supervision, and conducting research for the Montana Happiness Project, a suicide prevention and wellness organization. When taking a break from all the “irons in the fire,” Dylan relaxes with long bike rides and by spending time with his very supportive wife and daughters.
Jennifer Murphy
Jennifer Murphy is an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana, and brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of public safety, child welfare, and Indigenous advocacy.
Jennifer began her career as a Child Protection Specialist, where she worked directly with families navigating complex child welfare systems and advocated for culturally responsive practice. She later served as a Felony Parole Officer, supervising high-risk individuals and working within the criminal justice system to promote accountability, rehabilitation, and community safety. These roles provided her with a deep understanding of systemic barriers impacting Native families and communities.
Building on that foundation, Jennifer has become a strong voice in Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) advocacy, working to elevate awareness, strengthen community response, and support families impacted by violence. Her work centers Indigenous perspectives while addressing systemic gaps that contribute to vulnerability and injustice.
In addition to her advocacy work, Jennifer is a small business owner and trainer, providing professional development and systems-based training focused on cultural humility, trauma-informed practice, and Indigenous child welfare. Through her training and consulting, she partners with agencies, schools, and organizations to build stronger, culturally grounded systems of support.
Jennifer currently serves as a Tribal Student Achievement Specialist with the Montana Office of Public Instruction, where she works to advance educational equity and improve outcomes for Native students across the state. Her work bridges education, policy, and community engagement to ensure that Indigenous students are supported, seen, and empowered.
Through each of her roles, Jennifer brings cultural integrity, systems knowledge, and a commitment to strengthening Native communities.
Kristi Krings
Kristi Krings is the CEO of Rachel’s Challenge, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping schools build positive, connected cultures that support student well-being and prevent violence. Since its founding in 2001, Rachel’s Challenge has reached more than 30 million students and educators nationwide, providing evidence informed programming focused on connection, empathy, and student voice.
A national leader in school climate and culture, Kristi has spent more than a decade developing and delivering programs for schools and districts. She has personally spoken to over one million educators, students, and parents, sharing practical strategies that help reduce isolation, improve relationships, and create environments where students feel seen, valued, and safe.
Kristi regularly collaborates with education leaders to advance best practices around connectedness, hope, and whole-school culture. Her presentations are grounded, engaging, and actionable—inviting reflection while equipping educators with tools they can use immediately to strengthen community, reduce behavioral challenges, and support student success.
Tim Doll
Tim Doll is a veteran law enforcement professional and nationally certified School Resource Officer with the Billings Police Department, bringing 24 years of experience to the field. For the past nine years, he has served as an SRO at the highschool, middle school, and elementary school settings. His career spans service in both Billings, Montana and Casper, Wyoming, where he has held a wide range of assignments including patrol officer, detective, crime scene investigator, and academy instructor.
SRO Doll’s specialized skill set includes work as a polygraph examiner, forensic interviewer, and arson investigator, along with instructing crisis intervention, firearms, and active shooter response for both law enforcement and civilian audiences. He is a certified National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) instructor for the past three years where he instructs the SRO basic and advanced level classes along with being a certified trainer in Standard ResponseProtocols/Standard Reunification Methods through the I Love You Guys Foundation. SRO Doll currently serves as Region 10 Director for the NASRO, representing Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah, and is the current President of the Montana Association of School Resource Officers (MTASRO). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Montana State University–Billings.
Traci Doll
Traci Doll serves as an Associate Principal at Medicine Crow Middle School in Billings, Montana, a position she has held for the past five years. She is a founding member of the district Safety Steering Committee and leads building-level safety initiatives, including coordinating drills, collaborating with district personnel on threat and safety concerns, and working with external response agencies. She is also an active member of the school’s Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) and a certified trainer in Standard Response Protocols/Standard Reunification Methods through the I Love You Guys Foundation.
Prior to her administrative role, Traci was an educator in the classroom for 18 years. She spent ten years at Skyview High School teaching students in grades 9–12, specializing in resource instruction, social skills, and learning strategies for students with learning and emotional disabilities. She also served five years as Special Education Department Chair. Earlier in her career, she taught both special education and general education at the elementary level in Casper, Wyoming. Doll holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Special Education from Montana State University Billings, a Master’s in Special Education from Grand Canyon University, and a Master’s in Education Leadership from Rocky Mountain College.