About

Tanya Okoniewski, or Mrs. Okie, has been a professional educator since 2008.  She has taught and coached both middle and high school in local urban, rural, and private school settings since 1994, and has been a member of Park’s faculty since 2018.  Tanya earned her Master’s as a Literacy Specialist from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2013, focusing on multicultural literacy and writing Birth – Grade 12.  She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education from Buffalo State College, and certifications in Early Childhood Education and ELA 7-12. 

Tanya views education as not merely a goal, but a journey and the essential tool to work toward social justice in transforming students to defend a more just world.  She is actively committed to the diversity, equity, and inclusion work here at Park, as well as Immersion experiences for these young adults.  It is her hope to instill the love of life-long learning in all her students. As a teacher of multiple grade levels, purposely creating a culture wherein students enjoy school and strive to achieve is crucial. The love of reading will last a lifetime and by nurturing that love in a fostering environment where all feel welcome to study, learn, be inspired, seek help or simply just enjoy books for the pleasure of reading is her objective.  It is her belief that each and every student should be valued and treated with respect and an education should empower students in making a positive contribution to our world.

Tanya grew up in northern Niagara County, is married and a mother of three young adult children.  When she is not teaching, she loves spending time with her cat Clara, reading, baking, fishing, or taking weekend trips to her dad’s cabin in the Southern Tier.  She is obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe and fall is her favorite time of year!