From the Andes to New Jersey:
The Llano Legacy and the Power of Language

Por Diego F. Maya
Latino Spirit Media (Diverse Voices Link)

In public service, some leaders are shaped by ambition. 

Others are shaped by inheritance. 

Superintendent Alfonso Llano belongs to the second category. 

His leadership in Trenton, Vineland, and Camden did not begin in an office or a boardroom. It began decades earlier, in a home shaped by language, culture, education, and community. 

It began in the Andes.

A Journey from Bolivia to Opportunity

Alfonso Llano Jr. was born in the United States to parents who immigrated from Bolivia. 

His father, Don Alfonso Quintín Llano, was born in Tupiza, Bolivia, in the shadow of the Andes Mountains. In 1964, he immigrated to the United States with a dream rooted in education. Two years later, he married Teresa Amanda Rozo in La Paz, Bolivia, and together they began building a life in America. 

Upon arriving to the United States for the first time, Alfonso was befriended and taken in by the Italian community in Scranton Pennsylvania. Also immigrants, they helped him find work and shared their homes with him. In later years, Alfonso paid these kindnesses forward, extending support to newcomers, students, and families navigating their own journeys. 

Those acts of solidarity left a permanent imprint. 

Determined to seek a better life for his family, Alfonso’s next move was to continue his college education. He enrolled at Rutgers University, where he pursued a Master’s Degree in Spanish Literature. He consequently promoted college to his children and grandchildren as the means to a better future. 

Education became his life’s mission. 

For more than 35 years, he devoted himself to teaching Spanish—first at Watchung Hills Regional High School, later as an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College, and through corporate language instruction for major institutions including Johnson & Johnson, McDonald’s, and Hunterdon Medical Center. 

His philosophy was simple and unwavering: 

Language is dignity. 

Culture is strength. 

Understanding is power. 

He believed language was not only about communication—but about identity, confidence, and belonging. 

That philosophy became family DNA.

Leadership Shaped by Legacy

Growing up in a household where education, literature, and cultural pride were central, Alfonso Jr. absorbed these values long before entering public service. 

He learned that education was not transactional. 

It was transformational. 

He learned that immigrants do not merely adapt. 

They contribute. 

And he learned that leadership must honor those who came before. 

His father consistently emphasized college as the pathway to opportunity, encouraging his children and grandchildren to pursue higher education as a foundation for stability, service, and impact. 

Over time, Mr. Llano came to understand something critical: 

Language access is not charity. 

It is infrastructure. 

Spanish is spoken by more than 519 million native speakers worldwide, making it one of the most influential languages on Earth.¹ In the United States, it is the most common language spoken at home after English.² 

Research shows that bilingual students demonstrate stronger cognitive development and academic performance.³ Economically, bilingual professionals consistently experience higher lifetime earnings.⁴ 

For Mr. Llano, interpretation was never about offering courtesy. 

It was about protecting futures.

Public Recognition of Purpose

On February 4th, at his final Board of Education meeting in Vineland, that legacy surfaced publicly. 

Reflecting on his service, Mr. Llano stated:

“The work mattered… and it was grounded in the belief that all students can achieve greatness with a community behind them.”

Those words echoed his father’s life work. 

They reflected a belief passed from one generation to the next. 

They represented leadership grounded in preparation, inclusion, and accountability.

Students and Community Validate the Mission

During the same meeting, students and educators offered public gratitude. The JROTC program recognized his impact: 

“Your years of dedication, leadership, and service… have made a lasting impact on students, staff, and the entire community.” 

They emphasized how his leadership fostered discipline, character, and pride in service. This was not ceremonial praise. 

It was testimony. 

It was validation of years of intentional governance.

Language Access as Institutional Practice

Throughout his career, Mr. Llano insisted that families must understand the systems governing their children’s education. 

Under his leadership, districts strengthened communication, reduced chronic absenteeism, and ensured students felt seen, heard, and supported. 

Interpretation and bilingual engagement were embedded into governance.

They were not optional. 

They became infrastructure. 

By ensuring parents understood policies, academic programs, graduation pathways, and support services, districts strengthened institutional trust and improved outcomes. 

Language access became quality control.

Board Leadership Affirms Inclusion

Vineland Board of Education Vice President Dennis Rivera reinforced this approach: 

“We felt it was important to involve different sectors of our community… parents, staff, and the community as a whole.” 

This reflects governance centered on participation, equity, and shared responsibility. Leadership rooted in partnership rather than hierarchy.

A Consistent Arc Across Three Cities

From Trenton to Vineland to Camden, one principle remained constant: Everyone deserves a voice. Across these districts: 

• Parent participation expanded 
• Student engagement increased 
• Community trust deepened 
• Multilingual access became institutionalized 

These outcomes were intentional. 

They were designed. 

They were built. 

They reflected leadership that understood that communication drives performance.

Continuing the Legacy in Camden

Today, Mr. Llano continues his public service in Camden. 

Latino Spirit Media (DBA Diverse Voices Link) provides professional interpretation services for Camden Board of Education meetings, ensuring this legacy of access continues.

This work reflects the same philosophy his father lived by for decades: 

Language connects. 

Education empowers. 

Inclusion sustains institutions.

Transparency Statement

Latino Spirit Media (DBA Diverse Voices Link) works with school districts through open, transparent, and legally compliant procurement processes. All services are obtained through formal and competitive systems in accordance with district and state regulations.

From the Andes Forward

When Don Alfonso Quintín Llano passed away in 2025, he left behind more than memories. 

He left a model. A model of how education, culture, generosity, and integrity can shape generations. 

From Tupiza, Bolivia… 

To immigrant neighborhoods in Pennsylvania… 

To classrooms in New Jersey… 

To boardrooms shaping public education… 

That journey continues. 

Mr. Alfonso Llano Jr.’s leadership is not accidental. 

It is inherited. 

It is cultivated. 

It is lived. 

From the Andes to New Jersey, the Llano legacy reminds us: 

When language is honored, students rise. 

When legacy meets leadership, institutions endure.

Read the article in its Spanish version: https://thelatinospirit.com/de-los-andes-a-nueva-jersey-el-legado-llano-y-el-poder-del-lenguaje/

📚 FOOTNOTES / SOURCES 

¹ Spanish Language Statistics 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language

² Languages of the United States 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States 

³ Bilingualism and Cognitive Development 

https://preply.com/en/blog/bilingualism-statistics/ 

⁴ Economic Value of Bilingualism 

https://workforceessentials.com/career-benefits-of-being-bilingual/