Superintendent Of East Brunswick Schools Will Be Leaving The District In 2026

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – Dr. Victor Valeski, Superintendent of East Brunswick Public Schools, announced his retirement from the post during the last Board of Education meeting.

His retirement will be effective February 2026.

“Serving as Superintendent of East Brunswick Public Schools has been the honor of my professional life, and I'm immensely proud of the work that we have accomplished together in support of our students, staff, and families,” Valeski said.

"I want to thank all the boards I've worked for and the trust they've all placed in me over the years. I'm grateful for the collaborative spirit and shared dedication that define our district.”

Valeski’s announcement comes amid much criticism over the handling of the school budget after the state cut funds to the district.

Valeski has served as the district superintendent for the past 10 years and was responsible for steering the school district through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Valeski, the district became one of the models of hybrid learning during the pandemic, with Gov. Phil Murphy inviting the superintendent to speak about how the district achieved its goals during the height of COVID-19.

Valeski’s future plans are currently unknown, other than that he plans to pursue “future opportunities.

During Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Brad Cohen addressed Valeski’s retirement announcement, wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Cohen also emphasized the importance of finding a new, innovative educational leader and urged the Board of Education to cast a wide net for candidates.

“This is a person who's contributed a decade of service to the township, and our attention at this point should really be directed at finding a new educational leader for a township where its DNA is centered around our top-tier public school system,” Cohen said.

Cohen said the council and community should support the BOE, as it prepares to find a new leader.

He suggested the BOE should undertake the task with input from the community on what they would like to see in a new leader.

“They need to find somebody who is innovative, willing to try new things, not be afraid to fail, to focus on leading us into a direction that could provide us with a top-notch, 21st-century public education system for our children,” Cohen said.

He said the BOE should cast its net far and wide to bring in someone who could push the envelope since New Jersey is currently ranked the best state in education.

"I think we should be looking very far and wide. There are tools that exist for the Board to take advantage of. They should avail themselves of that,” Cohen said.

Extending support to the BOE, Cohen said, "I believe this council stands ready to help and support the Board of Education, which is their most important task, and I wish all of them success, because at the end of the day, their success is our success.

(Editor's note: This article has been edited after clarification from the Mayor.)

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