Coke Resigns From Montclair BOE

Tanya Coke, whose sister was murdered last month in California, has resigned from the Montclair Board of Education citing needs to care for her immediately family which now includes her niece, Board President Robin Kulwin announced Monday.

Coke’s sister, Sandra Coke, was a federal criminal defense investigator in California and a single mother of a teenage daughter.

Tanya Coke told the board she would have to set aside volunteer commitments in light of her sister’s death.

“Coming to terms with losing a family member suddenly and to violence is a punishing process, and will take time,” Coke said in a release from the district. “My sister was an exceptionally positive, loving person who prioritized time with family and friends. Losing her has been a lesson for me in the importance of holding family close, and sweating the small stuff of life a little less.”

Coke brought to the BOE her background as a former federal public defender and a current public interest lawyer, along with her expertise in racial justice, education, criminal justice, and juvenile justice, according to the district. 

“Tanya’s first priority must be her family,” Kulwin said, “but we will miss her insight and dedication to the Board. She has been an advocate for all children in our school community, especially the under-served, and in the face of some difficult dynamics, Tanya's is always one of the strongest voices for excellence and equity in this town and on the Board.”

Before joining the board, Coke was instrumental in the expansion of the IMANI program in Montclair, which provides extra academic support to children who need it. 

Coke founded and chaired the Montclair School Integration Task Force in 2009. The all-volunteer group of nationally recognized civil rights and human rights lawyers worked with district officials to develop a legal and sensible way to comply with Supreme Court rulings on integration in public schools, the district said. 

With the assistance of Ohio State University’s Kirwan Institute, the Task Force delivered a new school assignment plan based on residential “zones” instead of individual student characteristics.

Montclair Superintendent of Schools Penny MacCormack called Coke “one of the brightest, most passionate and most committed community leaders I have ever been privileged to work with."

Her departure from the Board is Montclair's loss," MacCormack said.

The Sandra Coke Fund was established by family and friends to help care for her daughter and pay for her education. Parents Who Rock collected donations for the fund at a recent concert.