Broward schools principal Carlton Campbell dies in crash
Carlton Campbell, a Broward County Public Schools administrator who worked in the district for more than three decades, has died, city and school district officials said Wednesday.
Campbell, 57, had a medical emergency while driving Wednesday and crashed, said his 27-year-old son, also named Carlton Campbell.
The elder Campbell was a native of Hallandale Beach and a proud graduate of Hallandale High School, where he was later principal until 2004, city officials said. He then became principal of Pines Middle School before his most recent role as Gulfstream Academy of Hallandale Beach K-8 principal.
He often heard from former students who thanked him for his guidance, his son said. Campbell had two other sons, ages 24 and 21.
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) October 25, 2023
“I feel like he felt that was the best way to help bring up the next generation in terms of being successful, being able to be there for them and guide them in the right direction, no matter what shape or form it was,” his son said of Campbell’s love for leading in education.
Campbell was “passionate about his profession and cared immensely about his school, students and staff,” Broward School Superintendent Peter Licata said in a statement.
“He devoted more than three decades to the District, going above and beyond to provide incredible learning opportunities for his students. His absence will weigh heavily on the hearts of many,” Licata said in the statement.
Campbell was an associate pastor at NOW Church, which meets at Nova High School in Davie, according to the church’s website. His brother Javen Campbell is the senior pastor.
School Board Member Daniel Foganholi, whose district includes southeast Broward, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, “My heart is heavy today along with so many others. We lost a principal, a pastor, a friend. When we first met, I remember he said to me… ‘The governor didn’t put you here, God did.’ Prayers go out to the Campbell family and (NOW Church) family.”
My heart is heavy today along with so many others. We lost a principal, a pastor, a friend. When we first met, I remember he said to me… “The governor didn’t put you here, God did.” Prayers go out to the Campbell family and @nowchurchfl family. pic.twitter.com/ij4KR3fuv4
— Daniel P. Foganholi (@DanFoganholi) October 25, 2023
Campbell earned his bachelor’s degree from Ball State University and earned his master’s degree in school counseling and guidance services from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to his LinkedIn profile. He later attended Nova Southeastern University.
Jeremy Mills, 45, whose mother grew up with Campbell, said his family lived in the same neighborhood as Campbell’s family. One of Campbell’s sisters is Mills’ godmother. Mills said he knew Campbell since he was a boy.
He was with Campbell over the weekend at a family function, celebrating a relative’s birthday, Mills said, the last time they were together spent “just celebrating life.”
“We all were together for three consecutive nights, just eating and having fun and dancing and taking pictures … what families do,” he said.
City officials announced Campbell’s death in a statement shared on Facebook shortly before 4 p.m.
“Our hearts are heavy today in the City of Hallandale Beach following the loss of Gulfstream Academy K-8 of Hallandale Beach Principal Carlton Campbell,” the statement said. “… He enriched the lives of so many through his work, and we will be forever thankful for his service to our community. We share our deepest condolences with his family, friends, and the entire Gulfstream Academy.”
(1/3) Our hearts are heavy today in the City of Hallandale Beach following the loss of Gulfstream Academy K-8 of Hallandale Beach Principal Carlton Campbell. pic.twitter.com/pTImW7NSfJ
— Hallandale Beach (@MYHBeach) October 25, 2023
Campbell was the son of Bishop James Campbell, pastor of the Church of God in Hallandale and grew up in the church, Mills said. He played football at Hallandale Beach High School and at Ball State and was on track to make an NFL team when he was injured. He returned to South Florida after that, Mills said.
Campbell was a mentor true to his core, Mills said. It wasn’t only a job to lead and guide the youth he knew, but something he constantly did for students, his family and at church.
“Myself, all the young men who grew up under him in the church, family or not, he always stressed education,” Mills said.
It was a tradition for over 30 years for families to gather at the Campbells’ home for Christmas Eve, where everyone opened presents together, Mills said. He was a family man who many viewed as a father figure.
“He loved God, and he loved his family, his immediately family … his church family,” Mills said. “He loved people, like genuinely loved people. No matter the race, the age, where you’re from. He loved people, always was positive. I’m thinking about it now — I’ve never seen him angry.”
Carlton Campbell recalled his father’s dedication to him and his siblings, and to the students he guided in his career.
“My dad was a great dad. He really was. He was very strong, very careful at the same time and always there for us,” Carlton Campbell said. “Growing up and through school and teenage and adulthood, whatever we needed he would do his best to help take care of us and put us in the right position … The same thing probably he would do to the kids at Pines Middle, Hallandale, he would do for us.”