In East Brunswick, traditions used to mean something.
At high school graduation, it’s customary for formal Board members—past and present—to sit on stage only if they’re handing a diploma to their child. It’s a moment of dignity, recognition, and community, to this day.
This year, Superintendent Victor Valesky decided that Jeff Winston, a former member of the Board of Education, would not be allowed to sit on stage for the entire graduation ceremony. Not because there’s a new rule. Not due to any capacity or protocol issues. But because Victor doesn’t like him.
Let’s be clear:
This is not a misunderstanding.
This is not a change in tradition.
This is pure, bitter retaliation.
Jeff Winston stated, “Victor is taking a situation he created, which now impacts students—and he’s using it to be vindictive.”
One community member echoed that sentiment, calling the decision “not a misunderstanding… not a change in tradition. This feels like retaliation.”
Jeff Winston, who served on the Board in this town, didn’t ask for special treatment. He asked for the same respect that had been shown to every other board member before him. He asked to honor his two youngest sons the way others have been allowed to do for decades.
Instead, he got stonewalled.
Winston spoke with Assistant Vice Principal Yanazzo—who played the middleman in this shameful debacle. Jeff reportedly told him:
“I get it, you’re stuck in the middle. But if this is what Victor wants to do, I’ll go legal—file an injunction, sue the Board and Victor personally. And when I’m back on the Board in January, I’ll make sure every bit of this comes back to bite.”
Winston added:
“He’s treating me differently. It’s discrimination, and everyone knows it.”
What makes this decision even more disgraceful is that even recent past board members have been allowed to sit on stage for the entire graduation ceremony—without issue, without interference, and certainly without a personal battle to make it happen. It was understood. It was respected. Until now.
But this year, Jeff Winston—who served this community just like those before him—has been singled out and shut out. No explanation holds water. Just a message from the top: Victor believes that Jeff Winston is responsible for his failures, but Victor won’t take responsibility for that.
Let’s not pretend this is about rules. It’s not.
It’s about ego and control. It’s about Victor Valesky sending a message:
“Cross me, and I’ll embarrass you—publicly, personally, and at your child’s expense.”
This should terrify every parent in East Brunswick.
Because if Victor can do this to a former board member, what has he done to your children, to you, and to staff members? Perhaps that’s the reason why he’s leaving.
Graduation should be about students. About celebration. About family.
Instead, it’s become a stage for one man’s vendetta.
And like all petty tyrants, Victor doesn’t need a reason; as Mel Brooks said in History Of The World Part One, “It’s good to be the king.”
