Meet Camden City Public School District Superintendent, Paymon Rouhanifard

Guest: Paymon Rouhanifard

The new Superintendent for the Camden Public Schools, PAYMON ROUHANIFARD comes in to discuss his new, challenging position and his strategic plan for the beleaguered school district, which was taken over by the state last year. The long-term plan includes the controversial private management of public schools, and a residential public school for homeless and at-risk students. Rouhanifard, who started his term in September 2013, has promised safer schools housed in high quality buildings for students; a better curriculum and instructional support for teachers; a “more service-oriented district office and school environment for parents; and improved district-led community centers and programs. Camden’s school district has the dubious distinction of performing the lowest in the state, as fewer than one in five elementary students pass literacy tests, and fewer than one in three pass math tests. Only half of its high school students graduate.

Photo: AP/Mel Evans