{{Short description|American school superintendent}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Alberto Carvalho |image = Alberto M. Carvalho, 2023 (cropped).jpg | caption = Carvalho in 2023 |office = 14th [[Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District]] |term_start = February 14, 2022 |term_end = February 27, 2026 (on administrative leave) |predecessor = Megan Reilly (acting) |successor = Andres Chait (acting) |office1 = [[Miami-Dade County Public Schools#Superintendent of schools|Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools]] |term_start1 = September 10, 2008 |term_end1 = February 3, 2022 |predecessor1 = [[Rudy Crew]] |successor1 = José Dotres |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1964}} |birth_place = [[Portugal]] |death_date = |death_place = |education = [[Broward College]]<br>[[Barry University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) }} '''Alberto M. Carvalho''' <small>[[Order of Merit (Portugal)|MedM]]</small> (born 1965)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artspeak.fiu.edu/video-categories/understanding-the-value-of-art-education-a-video-discussion-with-alberto-carvalho/|date=March 1, 2018|title=Inspicio arts leadership Understanding the Value of Art Education: A Video Discussion with Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools|website=[[Florida International University|Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media]]|access-date=December 11, 2023|archive-date=December 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211072013/https://artspeak.fiu.edu/video-categories/understanding-the-value-of-art-education-a-video-discussion-with-alberto-carvalho/|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]-American educator and the [[superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District]] since 2022. He served as superintendent of [[Miami-Dade County Public Schools]] (M-DCPS), the fourth-largest school district in the United States, beginning in 2008.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=http://superintendent.dadeschools.net/|title=Office of the Superintendent|website=superintendent.dadeschools.net|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref>
After a raid of the [[Los Angeles Unified School District]] office and his homes by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]], he was placed on paid administrative leave on February 27, 2026.
== Early life and education == Carvalho was born in [[Portugal]] to a father who worked as a custodian and mother who worked as a seamstress. He grew up in Lisbon.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/nyregion/new-york-schools-alberto-carvalho-miami.html| title=Miami Superintendent Chosen to Lead New York City Schools| last1=Taylor| first1=Kate| last2=Neuman| first2=William| newspaper=New York Times| date=February 28, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307142151/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/nyregion/new-york-schools-alberto-carvalho-miami.html| archive-date=March 7, 2023}}</ref> He was one of six children and the only one to graduate high school.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azednews.com/2015/04/16/alberto-carvalho-on-how-opportunity-is-key-to-achievement/|title=Alberto Carvalho: Opportunity is key to achievement|date=2015-04-16|website=AZEdNews|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104014517/http://azednews.com/2015/04/16/alberto-carvalho-on-how-opportunity-is-key-to-achievement/|archive-date=2016-11-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> He described growing up there in "pretty dramatic poverty,” living "in a one-room apartment with no running water and no electricity."<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article1960318.html|title=Miami-Dade Schools chief Carvalho named Superintendent of the Year|newspaper=miamiherald|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104000407/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article1960318.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
He came to the United States after high school in the early 1980s. As an undocumented immigrant, he worked mostly in construction and restaurants (as a dishwasher) and was homeless for a time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/11/06/dade-schools-superintendent-talks-about-his-homeless-past/|title=Dade Schools Superintendent Talks About His Homeless Past|last=Rodriguez|first=Eliott|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104002541/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/11/06/dade-schools-superintendent-talks-about-his-homeless-past/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Carvalho attended [[Broward College]] and then [[Barry University]], where in 1990 he graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=32026|title=Profile of Alberto Carvalho, 2014 Superintendent of the Year|last=Carr|first=Sarah E.|website=www.aasa.org|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004127/http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=32026|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:2008 Knight Arts Challenge Miami.jpg|thumb|left|Carvalho awarding an award to Principal Stacey Mancuso in 2008.]] Carvalho began his career in education as a physics, chemistry, and calculus teacher at [[Miami Jackson Senior High School|Miami Jackson Senior High]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=213902189|title=What's Behind The Turnaround At Miami Public Schools?|newspaper=NPR.org|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104011532/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=213902189|url-status=live}}</ref> He later became an assistant principal at the school.<ref name="auto1"/> He also worked as principal, chief communications officer, a school district lobbyist, and assistant superintendent before being named superintendent of [[Miami-Dade County Public Schools]] (M-DCPS) in 2008, the fourth-largest school district in the United States,<ref name="pta1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pta.org/1490.htm |title=Alberto Carvalho |publisher=PTA |access-date=2010-09-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613005659/http://pta.org/1490.htm |archive-date=2010-06-13 }}</ref> with over 346,000 students and 52,000 employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/08/21/superintendent-carvalho-visits-miami-dade-schools-ahead-of-first-day/|title=Superintendent Carvalho Visits Miami-Dade Schools Ahead Of First Day|last=Ortega|first=Oralia|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103234236/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/08/21/superintendent-carvalho-visits-miami-dade-schools-ahead-of-first-day/}}</ref> At the time of his appointment, the district was reported to have been near bankruptcy. Carvalho worked to cut the budget by $2 billion, firing "massive numbers of administrators" but not one classroom teacher.<ref name="auto2"/> He has described his approach as "[[Zero-based budgeting|zero-based]], moral-values-based" budgeting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2011/MAR/html/spot-miami.html|title=Education Update - Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho|website=www.educationupdate.com|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104035825/http://www.educationupdate.com/archives/2011/MAR/html/spot-miami.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2010, Carvalho was appointed the chairman of a taskforce aimed at improving teaching quality throughout [[Miami]].<ref name="mh1">{{Cite news|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/10/1816873/carvalho-to-head-task-force.html|title=Alberto Carvalho to head teacher quality task force|last=McGrory|first=Kathleen|date=September 9, 2010|publisher=Miami Herald Media Co.|newspaper=Miami Herald|access-date=September 11, 2010}}</ref> Carvalho franchised [[MAST Academy]], opening three new schools based on the original Virginia Key institution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://martimiddle.dadeschools.net/MAST/News%20Article.html|title=Miami-Dade district 'franchises' popular schools|last=McGrory|first=Kathleen|date=May 22, 2011|publisher=Miami Herald|access-date=December 1, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203054421/http://martimiddle.dadeschools.net/MAST/News%20Article.html|archive-date=December 3, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.fiu.edu/2013/08/mastfiu-opens-its-doors/65672|title=MAST@FIU opens its doors|last=Mursuli|first=Marlen|date=August 19, 2013|publisher=Florida International University News|access-date=December 1, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203174108/http://news.fiu.edu/2013/08/mastfiu-opens-its-doors/65672|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Carvalho served as President of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and is currently on the Board of Directors of The Children's Trust.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/about/board-of-directors/members|title=Board Members - The Children's Trust|website=www.thechildrenstrust.org|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104002924/https://www.thechildrenstrust.org/about/board-of-directors/members|archive-date=2016-11-04|url-status=dead}}</ref> Carvalho remained self-appointed principal of two schools that he opened: Primary Learning Center (2009), an elementary school, and iPreparatory Academy (2010), an experimental high school that he has called "my signature school."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756759|title=Profile: Alberto Carvalho {{!}} Scholastic.com|website=www.scholastic.com|access-date=2016-11-03|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104013042/http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3756759|url-status=live}}</ref>
He was implicated in a romantic relationship with Tania deLuzuriaga in 2008, a former Miami Herald education reporter while he was married.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/carvalhos-liaison-6558349|title=Carvalho's Liaison|last=Alvarado|first=Francisco|date=2008-09-12|newspaper=Miami New Times|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104105337/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/carvalhos-liaison-6558349|url-status=live}}</ref>
In February 2014, the [[American Association of School Administrators]] (AASA) named Carvalho the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alberto Carvalho Named 2014 AASA National Superintendent of the Year|url=https://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=32028|date=February 13, 2014}}</ref> On February 28, 2018, [[New York City Mayor]] [[Bill de Blasio]] named Carvalho as the city's next [[New York City Department of Education|Department of Education]] [[New York City Schools Chancellor|Chancellor]], but he refused the offer the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2018/03/01/carvalho-shocker-leaves-city-hall-scrambling-287235|title=Carvalho shocker leaves City Hall scrambling|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-date=2 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302044723/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2018/03/01/carvalho-shocker-leaves-city-hall-scrambling-287235|url-status=live}}</ref>
On December 9, 2021, Carvalho accepted the position of superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District following the resignation of [[Austin Beutner]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-dade-schools-superintendent-chosen-to-lead-los-angeles-school-district/2637955/|title=Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Chosen to Lead Los Angeles School District|date=December 9, 2021|website=[[WTVJ]]|access-date=July 9, 2022|archive-date=September 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921105220/https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/miami-dade-schools-superintendent-chosen-to-lead-los-angeles-school-district/2637955/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On February 25, 2026, Carvalho's residences in Miami and Los Angeles were raided by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) which appears to be related to his involvement in a failed [[chatbot]] program for the district named [[Ed (chatbot)|Ed]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mejia |first=Brittny |last2=Winton |first2=Richard |last3=Vives |first3=Ruben |last4=Blume |first4=Howard |date=2026-02-25 |title=FBI raids of LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho's home and office appear tied to AI chatbot probe |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-25/fbi-raid-lausd-search-warrants |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> The FBI also raided the LAUSD's headquarters.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hubler |first1=Shawn |last2=Goldstein |first2=Dana |last3=Mervosh |first3=Sarah |title=F.B.I. Raids Home of L.A.U.S.D. Chief Alberto Carvalho and School District Offices |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/us/fbi-raid-lausd-alberto-carvalho.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=February 25, 2026 |date=February 25, 2026}}</ref> After the raid, he was placed on paid administrative leave on February 27, 2026.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Blume |first=Howard |title=LAUSD Supt. Alberto Carvalho placed on paid leave following FBI raid of home, office |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US |date=February 27, 2026 |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-27/lausd-fbi-raid-superintendent-carvalho-paid-administrative-leave |access-date=February 27, 2026}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition == [[File:James Comey and Alberto M. Carvalho, 2015.jpg|thumb|Carvalho receiving an award from [[James Comey]], 2015.]] In 2011, Carvalho was named one of the nation's Top 10 Tech-Savvy Superintendents by eSchool News.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.dadeschools.net/releases/rls11/022_tech_savvy.html|title=Alberto Carvalho Named One Of The Nation's Top 10 Tech-Savviest Supts|website=news.dadeschools.net|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003207/http://news.dadeschools.net/releases/rls11/022_tech_savvy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Under Carvalho's leadership as superintendent, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools won the [[Broad Prize for Urban Education]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Miami-Dade Public School District Wins Prestigious Broad Prize for Public Education|last=Armario|first=Christine|date=October 23, 2012|work=Huffington Post}}</ref> The district has also won awards for marked improvement in [[Advanced Placement]] participation and performance.<ref name="auto1"/> In December 2013, he was named Florida's Superintendent of the Year. In February 2014, Carvalho was named the 2014 AASA National Superintendent of the Year during the organization's National Conference on Education. In May 2014, he was honored by [[Barack Obama|President Barack Obama]] at a ceremony at the White House, along with the National Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year winners.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/05/01/supt-carvalho-recognized-at-white-house-ceremony/|title=Supt. Carvalho Recognized At White House Ceremony|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104000920/http://miami.cbslocal.com/2014/05/01/supt-carvalho-recognized-at-white-house-ceremony/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He was also appointed to the National Assessment Governing Board by outgoing U.S. Secretary of Education [[Arne Duncan]] on October 6, 2015. The governing board sets policy for the [[National Assessment of Educational Progress]], tests children take across the U.S. The tests, also known as NAEP, are often called “The Nation’s Report Card."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/10/miami-dade-superintendent-alberto-carvalho-appointed-to-national-test-board.html|title=Miami-Dade schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho appointed to national test board {{!}} Naked Politics|access-date=2016-11-02|archive-date=2016-11-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003408/http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/10/miami-dade-superintendent-alberto-carvalho-appointed-to-national-test-board.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, Carvalho was named the winner of the [[Harold W. McGraw Prize in Education|Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education]] for K-12.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.dadeschools.net/cmnc/new/25282|title=Miami-Dade Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho Wins Prestigious Education Prize|date=March 3, 2016|access-date=March 3, 2016|archive-date=September 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918143623/http://news.dadeschools.net/cmnc/new/25282|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also named the 2016 [[Magnet Schools of America]] (MSA) Superintendent of the Year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://communitynewspapers.com/featured/msa-names-alberto-carvalho-2016-superintendent-year/|title=MSA names Alberto Carvalho 2016 Superintendent of Year Miami's Community News|date=2016-05-31|newspaper=Miami's Community News|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-02}}</ref>
Carvalho has been awarded several honorary degrees including a Doctor of Public Service by [[Florida International University]]; Doctor of Humane Letters by both Barry University and [[Florida Memorial University]]; and a Doctor of Pedagogy, Honoris Causa from [[Nova Southeastern University]].<ref name="auto"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{M-DCPS}} {{LAUSD}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carvalho, Alberto M.}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:School superintendents in California]] [[Category:School superintendents in Florida]] [[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Portuguese emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:20th-century American educators]] [[Category:21st-century American educators]] [[Category:Broward College alumni]] [[Category:Barry University alumni]] [[Category:Undocumented immigrants to the United States]] [[Category:American school principals]] [[Category:Los Angeles Unified School District superintendents]]