Los Angeles school superintendent on paid leave during federal investigation

In a surprising turn of events, Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid leave amidst a federal investigation, following FBI search warrants executed at both his residence and the district’s headquarters. The FBI has not disclosed the specifics of the investigation, and Carvalho has not faced any allegations of misconduct at this point.

The LAUSD Board of Education made the unanimous decision to suspend Carvalho to maintain stability and continuity within the district while the investigation unfolds. The board emphasized that their primary objective is to ensure that students’ education is not affected by these developments. As a result of this decision, Andres Chait, the Chief of School Operations, has been appointed as the acting superintendent during this period.

Carvalho, who assumed his role as superintendent in 2022 after leading the Miami public schools, has refrained from commenting on the situation thus far. The recent investigation extends to a property in Florida linked to Debra Kerr, who previously worked for AllHere, an education technology company that had ties with the LA schools. AllHere faced a downfall resulting in bankruptcy and the indictment of its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, on fraud charges.

While LAUSD has committed to cooperating with the ongoing investigation, Carvalho has denied any direct involvement in contracts with AllHere. The company had initially introduced an AI chatbot named “Ed” to assist students, but the partnership was terminated after financial discrepancies arose. Kerr, a family associate of Carvalho and a salesperson for educational technologies, has disclosed unpaid commissions related to the AllHere dealings.

Despite the current predicament, Carvalho has received accolades for academic advancements in both Los Angeles and Miami-Dade County schools. His initiatives to enhance Spanish-language programs in Miami led to a knighthood from Spain in 2021. Upon relocating to California, Carvalho fervently opposed the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies and battled with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over mask mandates during the pandemic.

Carvalho’s tenure in LA commenced during a critical phase, with the district grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and striving to address learning setbacks and enrollment declines. The situation surrounding the superintendent has undoubtedly placed the district in a state of uncertainty, as both officials and the public await further developments in the ongoing federal investigation.