Credit: Courtesy of Vineland Public SchoolsA longtime New Jersey educator and school leader will become the next state-appointed superintendent of Camden City schools on March 1.
Alfonso Q. Llano Jr., the superintendent of Vineland schools, is set to take the helm in Camden, the state-operated district, after unanimous approval by the state Board of Education at its meeting on Wednesday. State Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer recommended Llano’s appointment. State law gives Dehmer the authority to make the decision on who leads Camden schools since it has been under state control since 2013.
“I’m honored for the opportunity to serve Camden City School District as the state superintendent of schools,” Llano said at the board meeting. “Together we’re going to work through transparency, through tough times. We’re going to achieve great things.”
Llano added that he had the support of Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, a key factor as the previous state-appointed superintendent, Katrina McCombs, faced public pushback from the city’s leader and other city figures. McCombs has since taken on a role within the state Department of Education as its assistant commissioner for the Division of Early Childhood Services.
While Camden schools have made some gains since state takeover nearly 13 years ago, the district has struggled in recent years with enrollment as families opt to send their children to the city’s charter and renaissance schools, putting a strain on the district’s budget and resources.
Camden continues to struggle in instruction and programming and other categories under the state’s school monitoring system, McCombs said before her departure from the role in July. In its most recent state evaluation, city schools earned 57 out of 100 points, below the 80 points required to pass the state’s review.
The district has also struggled with chronic absenteeism, when a student misses 10% or more of a school year. In 2024-25, 43.8% of students were chronically absent, down from 67.2% in 2021-22 after remote learning. Prior to the pandemic, in the 2018-19 school year, 33.8% of students were chronically absent.
In an interview with NJ Spotlight News after his appointment, Llano said he will spend his first few weeks visiting schools and speaking with educators, administrators, students, families and community partners.
“First thing for me will be looking at the curriculum,” Llano added when asked about how he will approach the low state test scores in the district. “What is actually in place in the school district? How is it being implemented?”
Llano, an educator for 27 years, was previously acting superintendent and chief academic officer of Trenton Public Schools. He also served as that district’s assistant superintendent and as an elementary school principal.
While in Trenton and under his current role in Vineland, he said, he’s gained more experience working with charter schools and cultivating “positive relationships” with them. However, he added, he’s “invested” in helping the public school district thrive.
“I wouldn’t have taken the job if I thought the district was going to go away and become completely a charter network or renaissance network,” he said. “I’m going in to reinvigorate the public schools to be very competitive with the other options.”
Llano’s annual salary will be $260,000 under a three-year contract, an official from the state Department of Education confirmed.