Consultants

Tonya Johnson is the CEO & President of KNOWLEDGE 1ST Educational Consulting Services, LLC. She is also a Certified Anger Management Specialist I. Her mission is to enhance & develop the academic, vocational, socio-emotional, & economic abilities of individuals & families.  As a senior analyst with the Federal Government for 20+ years, Ms. Johnson also has over 17 years of PT time experiences providing education advocacy, curriculum design, consultation, training & professional development services to youths & adult groups. Her experience customizing anger management groups for angry children, teens & adults, promotes improved anger management skills. Ms. Johnson's parenting groups are designed to teach caretakers effective parenting skills. Ms. Johnson is a graduate of Trinity University. 

Emma Jean Norfleet-Haley, LICSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, CAMS I: President/CEO of Haley's Mind of Care Services, LLC (HMOCS). She holds a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology, and both a Master & a Bachelor Degree in Clinical Social Work. Professional experiences for the past 27 years have included Child Welfare Neglect and Abuse, Community Mental Health, Gerontology, DCPS Head Start Program, Domestic Violence, Washington Hospital Center's psychiatric unit & working with individuals that were homeless. This varied work history offered repeated experiences facilitating groups to include adolescent and adult anger management, parenting and domestic violence groups. Dr. Norfleet-Haley is a Certified Anger Management Specialist I, and a Licensed Clinical Social worker with over 15 years of supervisory and professional training experiences. Years have been devoted to teaching social workers how to prepare and pass the social work licensure exam. 

Danette Lawrence received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Mass in 1991. In addition, she received a Master of Social Work from Smith College School of Social Work in 1997. Ms. Lawrence was recruited to the District of Columbia in 2003 to work with families that were relocated under the HOPE VI project.
Ms. Lawrence has worked in the field of social work for about twenty years. She has worked in various settings which would include residential programs, juvenile court, housing authority, and schools as well as supported families in their homes. Ms. Lawrence has worked as a therapist, co-le substance abuse groups, led diversion groups for adolescent girls, conducted psycho-educational groups, and as a mobile emergency services social worker.
Ms. Lawrence is a firm believer in giving back; she has volunteered with the Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital for over 10 years and has been a mentor since 1999. Ms. Lawrence believes that by empowering young people, you can then empower families and from there you can aid a family in taking the lead in their own lives. She believes that it is important to exemplify change by modeling the “change you would like to see in the world.” Because of this approach, Ms. Lawrence was nominated by her staff for Employee of the Month in 2013; she notes that this is one of the most humbling acknowledgments that she has received in her career.
Prior to her working with the Housing Opportunities Commission, she worked as a Critical Case Manager/Team Lead for the DHS/ Virginia Williams Family Resource, a central intake for families in the District experiencing housing instability. She notes that this position was that most both challenging and fulfilling. Being able to work with families as they transform and begin to take the lead in their lives during an extremely vulnerable time, allows you to step back and look at how we support families and move them toward self-sufficiency while walking the fine line of not being enabling.

RENEE SAUNDERS JONES, BCLPC, BCLMFT, MAC, and CRS is a therapist and counselor who has worked with children, adolescents, families and couples for over forty years. Renee is a gifted teacher, trainer and presenter who is thankful for the opportunity to help people experience a healthy life. Renee is a graduate of Oakwood University and Eastern Washington University. She is a Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, and is a Master Addiction Certified Counselor, as well as a Certified Relationship Specialist. She enjoys cooking, music and spending time with family and friends.