Born into a family of Camden educators, Camden School District Superintendent Katrina McCombs grew up knowing the power of a good education in transforming one’s life or improving one’s circumstances. After attending Mickle School, Bonsall Elementary School, Cooper’s Poynt Family School, and Hatch Middle School, Mrs. McCombs graduated from Camden High School in 1987. She attended Lehigh University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral and neurosciences, before returning to Camden to work as an early childhood educator.
After teaching kindergarten for two years, Mrs. McCombs returned to higher education to better equip herself with the psychological and mental health skills she felt were necessary to support students who came to school having experienced trauma. She received both her MA and MAEd in psychological counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University, and became a child therapist. She used her counseling skills to support students as a group therapist and middle school English teacher. She quickly moved up the ranks at Lanning Square Elementary School from grade level chair to literacy coach, site facilitator, vice principal, and finally principal, a role she served until 2012.
Following her master of public administration degree from Rutgers University–Camden, Mrs. McCombs left Lanning Square to serve as director of the district’s early childhood department. In this role, she led Camden’s record levels of pre-k enrollment and supported the quality of early childhood education by investing in critical training for pre-k providers and early childhood educators. Armed with the unwavering belief that Camden students are more than capable of exceeding the state averages in reading and math, Mrs. McCombs supports the growth of high-quality neighborhood schools and provides teachers the support and resources they need to bring excellent instruction to the classroom every day.
Mrs. McCombs has overseen the successful implementation of a revamped college and career readiness program, an annual leadership development program for principals, and a transformation in how district educators are coached and evaluated to ensure excellent instruction in every classroom. The district’s dropout rate has fallen, and more students graduate each year. Working in partnership with the Rutgers–Camden community, Mrs. McCombs has introduced afterschool learning enrichment programs led by Rutgers–Camden students and staff. She and Chancellor Antonio D. Tillis also signed an MOU articulating such opportunities as Developing collaborative initiatives that help to achieve better outcomes for youth and families in the city of Camden: Engaging the critical resources of the university to create academically enriching and rigorous programming for students in grades K–12; Creating educational pathways to increase the number of underrepresented students in the city of Camden who apply, enroll, and successfully complete post-secondary education; and Developing opportunities for professional development and leadership development for school teachers, support staff, and administrators.
In announcing the partnership with Rutgers University–Camden, Mrs. McCombs said “This collaboration reflects one of our district’s top priorities: ‘Accelerate Student Achievement.’ This partnership will continue the significant steps in the fulfillment of our promise to prepare all students to be college and career ready by raising the academic and social-emotional learning bar that they deserve.” She has served on the Board of Directors for Camden Enrollment and the Camden County Department of Education’s Superintendents Roundtable.
Growing up in Camden, Mrs. McCombs was active in Antioch Baptist Church, where she served as a member of the Junior Choir and the Junior Usher Board, as well as a Sunday school secretary. Today, she serves alongside her husband, Tyone McCombs, who is the bishop.