On December 20th, 2024, Mr. L’mani Viney experienced his last day at Piscataway High School. Mr. Viney spent twenty-six years as a staff member at Piscataway High School, starting as a teacher and then eventually being promoted to a Dean. He also co-founded a PHS club, 50 Strong, which is a club that improves student’s personal, social, academic, and emotional development. Most importantly, Mr. Viney had a huge lasting impact on all of his students.
Mr. Viney officially announced his departure to everyone via social media, sharing his thoughts and feelings:
“And with that, it’s a wrap. After 26 years at 6:09pm on December 20th 2024, I walk out of Piscataway High School, as a teacher, Dean, big brother, surrogate father, counselor and confidant to so many for “maybe” the last time. Numb right now. I’ve had a few moments. But I’m numb. I hope and pray I can be half of what I was here at my next destination. But right now it’s all about this place and this moment. PWay Forever.”
Mr. Viney was interviewed on his last day and described his time here at PHS.
“[It’s] Probably the greatest ride I’ve ever been on because you’re in a profession where every single day is unpredictable. Every single day brings new life experiences, a new interaction, a new situation…We’re in the business of human interaction and human relationships. So I would say this [has] probably been the most unique and amazing journey.”
Mr. Viney, who was loved by students and staff throughout his 26 years at PHS, will go down as one of PHS’ most beloved teachers and student deans. He will always be remembered for his inspiring words such as always telling students to dream big.
Mr. Viney joined PHS 26 years ago after an interview. In that interview, he was asked, “What would students say about you?” Mr. Viney responded with:
“They would say ‘I hate Mr. Viney, I can’t stand Mr Viney, he irritates me.’”
He said that “they would say that because I would challenge their norm. I would challenge their way they see the world.”
Mr. Viney would then go on to receive the job a few days after.
However, despite the latter being true, the former isn’t because his students loved him for his personality and especially for the way he would change students’ world views. In fact, he named the student relationships he built as one of his biggest accomplishments.
“I think the biggest goal [I achieved] is building the love, respect, and relationships I have with my students after they leave here.” Viney said. He says after because, “That’s when you find out the way you go about things…If I talk to a student here at 14/15 years old, they’re gonna bite their tongue in front of me. When you’re in your 30’s, you’re not biting your tongue. You don’t have to. And so, to have the relations I have with so many former students…to see what type of amazing fathers, husbands, mothers, wives, and professionals they’ve become, and know that in some small way, I had something to do with it. That is my greatest accomplishment.”
Mr. Viney graduated the Class of 2024 last year and was assigned the Class of 2028 this year. Mr. Viney really enjoyed his short time with his Freshmen students this year. His freshmen students also shared that enjoyment with him. Here’s what he had to say to his Freshmen students:
“I’m gonna miss them because in Freshman year, you think you know everything but, you know nothing. But one of the benefits about being a veteran educator is…you know something they don’t know. [You know] that they’re going to change. That when you get older the world starts to slow down a little bit and how you see yourself and how what you want to prioritize starts to slow down when you start taking deeper thoughts. When you get to your senior and the closer you get to the end, the more you slow down, the more you start thinking.”
Many students are saddened by the departure of Mr. Viney with PHS. It was a late announcement, so many students said their goodbyes on social media.
Although he has worked in education for 25 years, Mr Viney is not retiring. Mr. Viney said that he will be taking a job at another school. In the interview he said he was presented with a unique opportunity that he couldn’t turn down.
“This is the uniqueness of it, it’s going to be a Dean at the High School in the school district where I live, where my daughter goes to school, with many students that I know just as well as I know here, and working with a team of leaders in administration that’s just as great as here.”
The memories Mr. Viney has made with students over his 26 years are too many to count. Mr. Viney was asked if there was one thing he could say to all of his students and staff that he has met over the course of his time here at PHS.
“Be bolder in your dreams.” Viney said. “Regardless of your background, regardless of your socioeconomic situation, your family situation. This place gives you a chance, man…You can be poor and say, ‘Hey, I want to go to Harvard on full scholarship.’…if you do your part in school, it will give you the opportunity to do that.”
