Leadership

After receiving my Master’s degree in elementary education from The City College of New York. I taught fourth and first grade for over a decade on the Upper West Side. I then entered administration as Director of Curriculum and Assistant Head of Elementary, also in New York City. I moved to Bedford–Stuyvesant in 2001 and am enjoying being “back home” after spending the past six years as the Head of Lower school at a PK-12 school in Wilmington, Delaware.

Email Deanna.

I’ve had many roles at the Co-op School first as a parent, then board member and treasurer. With the 2009 school expansion, my role evolved again to employee as Business Director. I have a master’s degree in public administration and enjoy being part of growing the thriving organism that the Co-op School is. I live in Brooklyn with my husband, son, and daughter.

Email Maureen.

I was born and raised in Queens, New York and I have been a part of The Co-op School community since 2008. During my career here, I have enjoyed teaching 2 to 5-year-old students, collaborating with families, and supporting the teaching staff. I’ve taught in the 2 to 5-year-old students 2’s, 3’s, and Pre-K classes and have been enjoying the role of Preschool Education Director. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in childhood education and a Master’s of Science in Early Childhood General and Special Education. I love the cooperative spirit, creativity, and family involvement at The Co-op School. My child started his first Co-op school year and I couldn’t be more grateful for the learning experiences the preschool staff bring to this community. In my spare time, I enjoy gardening, going to the beach (year-round!), camping, and going on coffee dates with friends and family.

Email Christie.

My name is Lelia Mangham and I have had the honor of working at The Coop School for 17 years. It has been such a pleasure watching the school grow and change. I have spent the previous 16 years here as first,  an assistant teacher and then a lead teacher. This year I will be the new Preschool Coordinator and I look forward to being able to serve this wonderful community in this new role. My goal is to be a resource for you on all things preschool and help you to all transition both into our wonderful school community and into your specific classes. I look forward to meeting all of you and having an exciting and fulfilling school year.

 Growing up in Queens I have always had the goal of becoming a teacher. After studying American History at Brooklyn College, I worked as a teacher in various school settings. I have taught nearly all grades from Kindergarten to 8th grade, leaving a long-lasting impression of meeting students at their point of need. I have gained a love for teaching and investment in the growth of children. I also serve as the Director of Media Operations for various organizations with an emphasis on visual, audio recording and live streaming events. I have my Masters in Childhood Education with Bilingual Extension from NYIT and I am certified in School Building Leadership from Molloy College.I love the community here at The Co-op School and it has become a family for me. I truly believe this quote to be true: “Kids know the investment. They see the realness and they see your heart.”

I am a New York native and grew up on Long Island. I have a Bachelor’s degree in childhood education from Oneonta State College and a Master’s degree in special education from Hofstra University. My journey at The Co-op School began in 2013, when I started working with preschool students as a SEIT. My love for the community was instant—so much so that I moved to Brooklyn from Long Beach. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, exploring local neighborhoods, and trying new restaurants. I am so proud to be part of the Co-op community!

There’s nothing I love more than eliciting giggles from kids with my silly voices and gibberish words. I’ve worked in camps and schools since I was a teenager, and hold a Bachelors of Fine Arts and a Masters in Education Research. I’m also a Mom to 3 amazing daughters, each 3 years apart, and we’ve lived together in Midwood, Brooklyn their whole lives. I’m especially passionate about interdisciplinary, child-centered learning, and parent advocacy. Some of my absolute favorite things are painting, plants, martial arts, and visiting my husband’s home country of Brazil. I am so excited for my family to be part of a community that’s invested in learning and growing together.

My name is Irish. I was born in the Philippines, grew up in New Jersey, and now live in Brooklyn. After getting my bachelor’s degree in the field of nursing, I decided to work in education and non-profit organizations focused on youth.  After working for 5 years in a Brooklyn independent school, I joined a non-profit organization in Philadelphia which works in giving free eye exams and eyeglasses to all of the city’s K-12 students. When I came back to this wonderful city, I wanted to join a school that places value on community. I am delighted to join The Co-op School and am looking forward to being a reliable and supportive addition to the team. In my free time, you can usually find me at the park, bookstore, museum, the beach, or commuting everywhere on my bike.

I have been with The Co-op School since August 2019. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but while I was in high school my family and I moved to Pennsylvania, where I also earned my degree. Brooklyn has my heart, so I came back home. In my spare time, I enjoy doing CrossFit, traveling, reading, and spending time with my three dogs Nighty, Luna, and Thor.

Email Evelyn.

I was born and raised in Portugal, where I got my Masters in Media Studies and Communication. I have lived in Brooklyn with my husband and our dog since 2015 and we welcomed our son Tomás in 2020. I’m passionate about education, learning and all kinds of stories. I believe in the power of learning through meaningful and fun experiences and projects. In my free time you’ll find me enjoying my family in the parks, museums and restaurants in the city. I love to cook, photograph and gather with our friends and community.

I grew up in Rochester, NY where I completed my nursing degree at Saint John Fisher College. As soon as I graduated I started my first job as a pediatric nurse at the University of Rochester Medical Center. I was eager to move out of my hometown, so after two years there I began my journey as a traveling nurse. I worked in hospitals in many different cities including Denver, San Diego, and San Francisco. During the pandemic I moved back home to Rochester for a few months then thought I’d try my luck in NYC. Before coming to The Co-op school, I was working in the Pediatric ICU at NYP. I’ve been lucky enough to wear many different hats as a nurse throughout my travels and I’m very excited about this transition into the role of school nurse. When I’m not at work I enjoy cooking, hiking, snowboarding, boxing, and live music! I’m eager to meet all of the students and families this year! I look forward to the opportunity to care for your children.

I was born in Harlem and moved to Brooklyn later in life with my wife and three kids. I worked as a custodian for St. John University for five years and with an early childhood education program at Sheltering Arms Children & Family Services for ten years. I love working in environments with children. Whatever I clean becomes so clean you will see your reflection!

Sara Siddappa has worked in education for twenty years. She is Assistant Principal for the Cypress Hills Community School, the only school-wide dual language program serving students 3K-8 in District 19. An innovative model that was started by parents, Sara joined the faculty in 2002 and was instrumental in growing the middle school division, which prioritizes admissions for Spanish-speaking students new to the country. She transitioned to the role of instructional coach centering the social-emotional development of young-adolescent immigrants. In her current role, Sara leads strategic planning and oversees operations. She is the proud daughter of an immigrant, grew up in a bilingual household in eight states and four countries. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and Latin American and Caribbean Studies from the University of Michigan, a M.S. Ed from Brooklyn College, and an Ed. M. in Education Administration from Bank Street Graduate School of Education. Sara and her husband Madhu live in Bed-Stuy with their child Joaquín. Their family has been part of The Co-op School since 2018.

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.

Kristina has 20+ years of non-profit management and fundraising experience. She has worked for over a decade at The Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival, one of the world’s leading arts and cultural institutions. In her current position as Senior Director of Development, she oversees all fundraising, strategic planning, board governance, and operational development. Kristina hopes to use her experience and time to help secure the future of The Co-op School for years to come. Kristina is Board Secretary, Co-chair of the Fundraising Committee, and a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Finance Committee. She and her husband, Jake, live in Bed-Stuy and are proud parents of two boys. Her family has been part of The Co-op community since 2017.

Octavia is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn. She is the product of an independent school education and graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Religious Studies. She is a Vice President at BNY Mellon and has been a product manager in financial services for the past ten years, focusing on providing cash management solutions to other financial institutions. This is her second year on the Board. She has served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, as well as the Strategic Planning Committee, and currently serves on the Executive Committee as Treasurer. She and her husband, Eric, live in Bed-Stuy and are the proud parents of Eric III (Kindergarten) who has been a part of The Co-op School for the past three years.

Steve was born and raised in East Flatbush Brooklyn by Haitian immigrant parents. He went to High school in Park Slope and attended Long Island University (downtown Brooklyn) where he studied Business Administration & Finance. Steve spent several years in sales & customer service before switching over to the TV/Film industry eventually becoming an Assistant Director. He lived in Clinton Hill for six years before moving to Bed-Stuy a few years ago with his wife Nyanza, his son Coltrane & dog Riley. They have been members of The Co-op School community since 2017 when Coltrane started pre-school. 

Anne Schaeffer is an attorney who represents survivors of gender-based violence and co-chairs the reproductive rights committee at a large NYC non-profit. Anne received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Columbia University Law School. She is thrilled to join the board and serve on its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Fundraising Committees. Anne’s family has been a part of the Co-op community since 2013. She lives in Bed-Stuy with her sons, Zymair (6th grade), Peter (2nd grade) and husband, Ben. 

Claire Stapleton is a writer and marketing & communications consultant in the tech sector. A native of Oakland, California, she’s an alum of The College Preparatory School and the University of Pennsylvania. She spent 12 years at Google/YouTube managing communications and brand marketing, slowly following a familiar arc from true believer techno-optimist to vocal apostate. She co-organized the Google Walkout in 2018 and speaks and writes frequently on tech worker issues. She and her husband Shane live in Bed-Stuy and have two sons (Malcolm, Kindergarten and Felix, Ladybugs). A member of the Co-Op community since 2019, she joined the Board in 2022 and co-chairs the Strategic Planning committee.

Poppy has lived in Bed-Stuy for over a decade, after moving to the US, from her native London, in 2011. She was a member of the leadership team that took Meural from pre-revenue to acquisition in 2019, and 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. She began her career as a teacher and head of department in the UK’s state (public) school system, and subsequently worked with the UK’s leading museums and cultural organizations to develop their educational programs, with a specific focus on digital technologies. On the board, Poppy is the co-chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. She and her partner Raoul are the parents of Theo, and her family has been part of The Co-op community since 2020.

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.