Camden Officials Welcome Llano As Superintendent, Hard Work Begins
Camden Schools Advisory Board President N'Namdee Nelson, Superintendent Alfonso Llano and Mayor Victor Carstarphen at the Meet and Greet for Llano on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Photo courtesy of Camden City Schools
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
CAMDEN – A group that included Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, council President Angel Fuentes and State Sen. Nilsa Cruiz-Perez welcomed former Vineland School Superintendent Alfonso Llano to its school district this week.
Camden City Schools, which has been under state control for more than a decade, recently went through challenging budget cuts at the beginning of the school year that led to critical losses of educators and staff.
State Education officials appointed Llano to the new post, replacing acting interim superintendent Davida Coe-Brockington.
READ: State Educations Officials Name Vineland’s Alfonso Llano as new Camden Superintendent
“The group expressed their full support as the district works to improve educational outcomes for Camden’s youth,” said Fuentes on Facebook. “Alfonso Q. Llano Jr. is a seasoned, student-centered educational leader with a proven record of guiding complex school systems through improvement, stabilization, and transformation.
“He brings to the Camden City School District a leadership style rooted in trust-building, equity, fiscal responsibility, and a deep belief in the power of public education to change lives. Throughout his career, Mr. Llano has led diverse, high-need districts with a clear focus on accelerating student achievement while strengthening organizational systems and community confidence.”
The meet and greet on Wednesday, Jan. 21, was hosted by Carstarphen in hopes of getting Llano to a positive start.
“Leaders from across the city came together for meaningful conversation about public education, partnership, and collective responsibility,” Camden City Schools said in a statement on social media about the gathering.
“We also thank Acting Superintendent Dr. Davida Coe-Brockington for her continued leadership and steady guidance as the district moves forward. When city leadership, community partners, and schools work together, our students benefit.”
Still, the hard work is still ahead of Llano and will come practically as he steps into the superintendent’s chair. The school lost some 300 jobs before the start of the school year, many which were critical for parent-school relations.
“The fact he did not say the district’s current staffing was effectively reduced before he takes office, suggests he has not been briefed about those cuts,” said Kevin Waters, a retired Camden educator, on Facebook.
“The district is understaffed now. Who is in the role to orient the new superintendent? He should already be up to date about staffing. Program cuts would create more harm. Any additional cutting, anything is going to destabilize the district. I realize he’s not in office yet. He should have initiated an assessment of what is needed. The information is not secret.”
Fuentes in his post expressed confidence in Llano moving forward.
“He prioritizes open communication, collaborative problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making to rebuild trust and coherence across systems,” Fuentes said. “His approach balances urgency with respect for the complexity of Camden’s portfolio environment, ensuring that traditional public schools are strengthened, celebrated, and positioned competitively.
“A fiscally astute leader, Mr. Llano has extensive experience overseeing large, state-aided budgets, strengthening internal controls, reducing audit findings, and aligning resources to instructional priorities.”
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