At a press conference today Gov. Christie announced his pick for the new superintendent of Camden Public Schools, Paymon Rouhanifard. After the State Board of Education approves the nomination, Rouhanifard will oversee a 14,000 student district, now under State control, that Christie has called a “human catastrophe.”

Last year Newark superintendent Cami Anderson appointed Rouhanifard, 32 years old, as her chief strategy and innovation office. Previously he served as  Deputy Chief of Staff at the New York City Department of Education and, before that, taught in Harlem through Teach for America.

NJ’s branch of Democrats for Education Reform applauded Rouhanifard’s nomination. From State Director Kathleen Nugent:

He is a leader who is deeply committed to revitalizing Camden’s public schools, with on the ground experience leading the reform of school systems from New York City, NY to Newark, NJ. His nomination is a significant win for the students, families, educators, and stakeholders of the city.

Instead of dwelling on the failure of the public school system to date, let us now unite around the momentum created today to focus on what great schools can and will do for Camden’s families under strong leadership. Rouhanifard is the right leader at the right time to restore the promise of quality public school options for Camden’s children.