Tammy Tolleson
Tammy Tolleson Knee is the Director for the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) at the University of Montana’s Phyllis J. Washington College of Education. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Montana, and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1997.
With almost 30 years of experience as an LCSW and 12 years as a Licensed Educator and School Counselor in Montana, Tammy has worked across three states in both educational and community-based settings, supporting the strengths and well-being of young people. She is a Board-Certified Tele-Mental Health Therapist, a certified trainer for the I Love U Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol and Reunification, and a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor.
Outside of work, Tammy enjoys listening to audiobooks while hiking, laughing with friends and family, and playing pranks with coworkers. She firmly believes that even in the midst of challenges, well-being can be cultivated.
Family Ambassador Board (FAB)
The Family Ambassadors Board (FAB) is made up of nine parents of children who receive behavioral health case management services in Montana. FAB families live in towns large and small across the state. The group consults with CMHB regularly to help improve services for all families.
John Sommers-Flanagan
John Sommers-Flanagan (he/him) is Founding Director of the Center for the Advancement of Positive Education (CAPE) at the University of Montana, a counselor educator, clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including 10 books and many training videos. His books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy in Context and Practice (4th ed., Wiley, 2026), Clinical Interviewing (7th ed., Wiley, 2024), and Suicide Assessment and Treatment Planning: A Strengths-Based Approach (American Counseling Association, 2021). John’s current work includes promoting evidence-informed kindness, gratitude, empathic relationships, and strengths-based education as the best way forward toward a civil and peaceful society. You can learn more about John and his activities on his blog: https://johnsommersflanagan.com/ or on the CAPE website, https://www.umt.edu/education/specunits/cape/.