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.
Rachel Nozari is a strategic HR leader who cares deeply about how organizations work and how people experience that work. She partners with leadership teams to design talent systems, structures, and development approaches that bring clarity, alignment, and momentum.
Her work sits at the intersection of organizational design, leadership development, and performance strategy. Rachel is especially drawn to complex environments where teams are growing, evolving, or navigating change. She believes the strongest organizations are those where people understand their roles, feel supported to lead from their strengths, and see how their work connects to a larger purpose.
Over the course of her career, Rachel has built and implemented performance systems, redesigned compensation frameworks, facilitated leadership development programs, and led multi-stakeholder initiatives that require both strategic clarity and disciplined execution. She bring systems thinking, practical problem-solving, and a strong commitment to developing leaders who create inclusive, high-performing teams.