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.
Mark Barden
Mark Barden is co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise. Since the tragic murder of his son, Daniel, during the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, Mark has dedicated himself to sparing other families the pain of losing children to gun violence.
Mark believes that thoughtful, sincere dialogue centered on protecting youth will lead us to shared common ground and nonpartisan solutions everyone can agree with. These include expanded background checks, secure storage of firearms, extreme risk protection laws, and other measures that are proven to prevent gun violence.
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.
Andrew Dominic
Mr. Andrew Dominic serves as the Engagement Manager for the School Safety Task Force at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. In this role, Mr. Dominic enhances the safety and security of the nationwide K-12 school community by managing the School Safety Task Force’s involvement in external engagements and leading the development of program engagement resources and trainings.
Joe Frohlich
Joe Frohlich serves as a Cyber State Coordinator (CSC) for Montana, Region 8 (UT, CO, MT, WY, ND, SD) of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the Department of Homeland Security. He is based out of Helena. CISA works with public and private partners to defend against today’s threats and build more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future. The CISA Cybersecurity Advisor program includes promoting cyber resilience through various engagements and performing risk and resilience-based assessments. Before joining CISA, Joe was the IT Director at Ravalli County, Montana, for nine years. During his time at Ravalli, he co-founded Montana’s Local Government IT group and served on the executive board for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, better known as MS-ISAC. In 2015, he moved to Helena to work for the State of Montana as the Enterprise Security Manager for the Department of Administration. In this role, he assisted in the creation and management of the Governor’s appointed Montana Information Security Advisory Council (MT-ISAC), whose primary focus was cybersecurity in state and local government. Joe directed the state Government enterprise security policy, managed the security and awareness campaign, and supervised a team of IT risk management professionals. Early in 2021, Mr. Frohlich transitioned to DHS/CISA in his current role as a CSA for Region 8.
Andrea Savage
Andrea Savage, LCPC, LMFT is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 21 years of experience in the mental health field. She currently serves as the Mental Health Coordinator and a school-based therapist for Great Falls Public Schools, where her work focuses on student wellness, staff mental health, and systems-level collaboration. Andrea is deeply committed to community collaboration, believing that sustainable mental health support is built through strong partnerships among schools, families, mental health providers, and community agencies. She works closely with educators, administrators, and community partners to support staff well-being, secondary trauma prevention, and trauma-responsive school environments. She is the founder of LIFT, a mental health teen mentoring program in Great Falls, a therapist-facilitated program centered on student voice and peer leadership. Students meet weekly to discuss mental health topics, practice active and reflective listening, and learn how to identify concerns and refer peers to appropriate mental health resources. In recognition of her leadership and impact on youth mental health, LIFT was a recipient of the Youth Spotlight Award at the 2024 Jeremy Bullock Conference. In her private practice, Andrea works with adolescents and adults and specializes in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her clinical and systems-level work emphasizes trauma-informed care, resilience, and connection across school and community settings.
Dr. Trevor Fronius
Trevor Fronius, Ph.D., is Director of WestEd's Justice & Prevention Research Center where he is focused on the mission of fostering safe schools and strong, thriving communities. With more than 16 years of experience, Dr. Fronius has served as a Principal Investigator on more than 20 studies funded by federal, state, and philanthropic sources examining topics that include school-based law enforcement, behavioral threat assessment, firearms safety, police wellbeing, community violence intervention, school-based restorative practices, bullying prevention, chronic absenteeism, and school-based mental health.
Dr. Fronius has provided national-level technical assistance to school safety grantees and their community partners, helping practitioners bridge research and practice to strengthen safety outcomes for students. His recent work funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) includes statewide evaluations of behavioral threat assessment training in Texas, school police reform in California, school security equipment investments in Virginia, and Texas' statewide school-based safe storage communication campaign.
Dr. Fronius has led or contributed to nearly 100 publications and presentations, with work appearing in journals and edited volumes including Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, Contemporary School Psychology, Aggression and Violent Behavior, and Oxford University Press. Dr. Fronius earned his Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Reannon Medrano
Reannon Medrano, MBA, M.Ed. serves as the principal of East Middle School in Great Falls Public Schools, where she is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and high-achieving learning environment for all students. As a student-centered instructional leader, she brings extensive experience in educational leadership, school improvement, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), data-informed decision-making, literacy intervention, and staff development. Throughout her career, Reannon has focused on building strong systems that promote academic success, student well-being, and continuous improvement. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, trust, and shared responsibility, recognizing that meaningful school improvement is achieved through strong relationships and a collective commitment to student success. She is passionate about creating school cultures where students feel connected, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. Reannon is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at Texas Lutheran University, with research focused on school safety and crisis preparedness. Her work examines the effectiveness and impact of armed intruder training on educators and school communities, with particular attention to balancing physical safety measures with psychological well-being and trauma-informed practices. Her research interests include educator perceptions of safety initiatives, school climate, and organizational preparedness. In addition to her commitment to school safety, Reannon is passionate about educational equity, literacy development, and leadership growth. Grounded in thoughtful and ethical leadership, she collaborates with educators, families, mental health professionals, and district leaders to create resilient, responsive schools that support the success and well-being of every student and staff member.
Brittany Masters
Brittany Masters is a Prevention Specialist with Montana Prevention and Wellness, serving Southwest Montana as part of a statewide network reaching 26 counties. A proud wife and mother of four, she earned her degree in Psychology from the University of Montana Western and is passionate about strengthening communities through prevention. Deeply rooted in Butte-Silver Bow, Brittany believes meaningful change happens when people come together around a shared purpose.
Brittany works alongside schools, youth, families, and community partners to strengthen protective factors, reduce risk factors, and create environments where young people can thrive. She is committed to applying real-world concepts to education by meeting students and families where they are and translating prevention science into meaningful action. Her work includes coalition building, youth leadership development, supporting the placement and implementation of evidence-based prevention programs in schools, and creating student-engaged initiatives that foster belonging, connection, and resilience.
Trained in QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service, and Parental Resilience, Brittany also supports initiatives such as Teens in Partnership and Red Ribbon Week. Utilizing evidence-based strategies and prevention frameworks, she promotes positive youth development and community well-being. She believes prevention works best when it is authentic, collaborative, and rooted in community—creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected.
Brooke Hathaway Angst
Brooke Hathaway Angst is the founder of Angst Learning Services and a national consultant and educator with deep expertise in early childhood education, child development, and family engagement. Beyond her formal education in psychology, counseling and education curriculum and instruction, Brooke is also a certified Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)® Practitioner and Educator through Texas Christian University’s Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development and certified HOPE Champion through Tufts Medical School. With nearly 20 years of experience working with children and families impacted by trauma and adversity, Brooke has consulted and trained school districts, nonprofit organizations, and early childhood programs across the country in relationship-based, strengths-focused approaches. She specializes in helping providers and educators create safe, connected, and empowering environments where children and caregivers can thrive. Brooke has recently joined the School Behavioral Health team at the University of Montana’s Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development to develop research-based training and support for educators across the state.
Justin Matthews
Justin Matthews grew up in a law enforcement household, where he gained an early understanding of the complex realities affecting individuals, families, and communities. His professional journey has been anything but conventional—beginning in the culinary world before spending more than a decade as an international touring musician. Along the way, personal experiences navigating life’s challenges, including exposure to substance use, shaped his perspective on resilience, connection, and recovery. Today, Justin serves as a Prevention Specialist committed to strengthening protective factors, reducing risk factors, and fostering healthier, more resilient communities. He works closely with youth, schools, and community partners to advance evidence-based prevention strategies and positive youth development. As a pillar of Primed for Life education, Justin helps equip young people with the skills and confidence to make healthy decisions. His prevention work includes Responsible Alcohol Sales and Service training, PAX tools, Prevention Plus Wellness, and Drug Endangered Children (DEC), while also supporting local and statewide initiatives through DUI Task Forces, Communities That Care, the Montana State DPHHS Prevention Sub-Committee, and the State Substance Abuse Task Force. Through collaboration, prevention frameworks, and community-level change, he is dedicated to building cultures of prevention where individuals and communities can thrive.
Wendy Ekegren
Wendy Ekegren is the School Behavioral Health Program Director and Implementation Coach at the University of Montana’s Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development (CCFWD). She supports prevention-based instructional strategies, data-driven decision making, and rural school mental health. Wendy works closely with the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN), the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to strengthen state and district capacity for implementing and sustaining effective practices. She has two decades of elementary teaching experience in Virginia and Montana and is well-versed in behavior support and classroom management strategies that improve student outcomes and teacher competencies. Wendy also provides implementation and program support for evidence-based programs, including PAX Good Behavior Game (GBG) and Early Intervention Systems (EIS).