Staff from any of DCSC’s active member schools or school networks are eligible to join any group at no cost.
In a time of ongoing workforce instability and shifting school needs, this Community of Practice will support school and talent leaders in developing sustainable, mission-aligned staffing strategies. Participants will focus on how to make intentional staffing decisions that strengthen retention, clarify roles, support long-term organizational stability, and align people and resources to school priorities.
Designed for staffing decision-makers, this CoP will create space for leaders to step back from immediate staffing pressures and plan more strategically. Together, participants will explore how to assess current staffing structures, plan for growth, make thoughtful staffing adjustments in moments of constraint, and communicate staffing decisions clearly and fairly.
Ideal Participant Profile: This CoP is designed for staffing decision-makers—such as heads of talent, executive directors, heads of school, and senior leaders from single-site schools and small CMOs—who are responsible for making or influencing talent, budget, and organizational design decisions.
Dates and Times:
Ahnjelica Blake is a results-oriented Human Resources and Talent Acquisition professional, with a Master’s in HR Management and a decade of experience. Highly skilled in managing and supporting all aspects of the employee lifecycle, Ahnjelica has a proven ability to build strong relationships, attract top talent, foster a positive work environment, and contribute to organizational success through strategic HR initiatives. She is adept in recruitment, onboarding, performance management, DEI and employee relations. Ahnjelica is passionate about connecting and supporting exceptional individuals with rewarding career opportunities.
Nicole Roberts Pratt is VP of Program Strategy & Impact at EdFuel, a national nonprofit that helps education and nonprofit organizations build stronger talent systems. She oversees the design, delivery, and impact of EdFuel’s work with schools and nonprofits nationwide. Before joining EdFuel in 2021, Nicole helped launch teacher professional development at Instruction Partners and later led the organization’s internal talent systems through a period of rapid growth, giving her firsthand experience building staffing infrastructure while an organization scales. Earlier in her career, she supported statewide teacher evaluation and professional learning for educators and school leaders at the Tennessee Department of Education. She began her career as an elementary teacher in rural North Carolina, and that classroom-level view still shapes how she thinks about staffing decisions today.