Poppy Simpson has worked with start-ups at the intersection of culture and technology for over a decade: most recently as part of the leadership team at Meural (acquired 2019), where her team built the first subscription streaming offer for art and photography by partnering with major museums, beloved brands and artists both iconic and emerging. An alum of the University of Oxford, Poppy began her career in her native London, as a teacher and head of department, and subsequently worked with the UK’s leading cultural organizations to develop their educational programs, with a specific focus on digital technologies. She and her partner Raoul have lived in Bed Stuy since 2015 and, along with their son Theo, have been members of the Co-Op community since 2020. She currently serves as President of the Board.

She is currently a Family Team Conference Facilitator in a non-profit New York human service agency, serving families in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. She has over a decade of experience in the field of Child Welfare, beginning as a Child Protective Specialist, investigating reports of child abuse and maltreatment, for the city of New York. She transitioned to working as a Case Planner in foster care prevention and foster care, working with foster care youth as they work through their respective permanency goals of independent living or returning to their parents. Later, joined middle management as a Family Team Conference Facilitator/Coordinator with a Foster Boarding Home program in Brooklyn, working towards and ensuring the goal of permanency for children and youth in Foster Care. Born and raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn to immigrant parents of Ecuador and Haiti. She obtained a BA in Psychology at Adelphi University and Master of Organizational Behavior at NYU Poly. She is a proud member of Mocha Moms, Inc, Brooklyn Chapter, and current Membership Chair. Family has been with the Co-op School since 2020 with two boys currently attending. Member of the school’s Community Partnership Committee. Joined the board in 2022, to continue to promote family and staff partnership in the educational process and aid in the development of the school’s community.

Hilary Cramer Robinson has worked in the nonprofit sector for over sixteen years. As the Director of Major Gifts for JCCA, one of the largest child welfare organizations in New York, Hilary oversees the agency’s individual giving program, as well as events, donor cultivation, and development. Hilary holds a BA in Educational Studies and Sociology from Trinity College and a MS in Nonprofit Management from the New School. She serves as the Vice President of the Board, and Co-Chairs the Fundraising Committee. She lives in Bed-Stuy with her husband Mike, first grade daughter, and toddler son.

Renée Ifill is a native New Yorker, Fort Greene resident and executive producer of a popular Philadelphia Eagles podcast. She has spent 25 years working in media, with clients like Condé Nast, Vox Media, The New Yorker and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She specializes in diversifying and producing content and solving problems related to a changing media landscape. She and husband Bobby Jones have a 7th grader named Miles, and this is her second year as a Co-op School parent.

Sara Upton is a director at Chrysara, an international manufacturing company specializing in decorative accents. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College and received a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.  She has served on the Class Parent and Library Committees and this is her first year on the board.  Sara, her partner, Scott, and their son, Nico, live in Bed-stuy and they have been part of The Co-op community since 2016.

Alexa moved to New York from her hometown of Vancouver, Canada in 2001 for graduate school at Bank Street College of Education and she has worked in the field ever since: Advocating for equity and access in arts education for diverse learners in NYC public schools; directing a program launched under the Obama administration to prioritize the strategic use of the arts for school improvement; and leading a team of educators and hosting kids and teachers for inclusive and engaging museum experiences. Alexa is a former trustee for several local and national non-profit organizations with collaborative leadership models and current co-chair of the Streetscape Committee for her Bed-Stuy block association. Alexa joined The Co-op School community last fall when her daughter Kai turned two. She and her husband Charlie believe deeply in The Co-op School’s core values and bring compatible goodwill: Be present, communicate, collaborate, embrace the possible, and take risks.

Jesse is a husband, a proud father of three, and the Founder & CEO of Ei Digital, a full-service digital agency based in Brooklyn. With over two decades working at the intersection of marketing, technology, and entrepreneurship, he has deep experience in Bev/Alc, CPG, Media/Entertainment, eCom, B2B, and Startups. Previously serving two years on the Marketing and Communications committee, Jesse is excited to be joining the Co-op School Board of Trustees to continue supporting the school.