Los Angeles School Superintendent Placed On Paid Leave Amid Federal Probe

Los Angeles School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid leave amid a federal investigation, following FBI search warrants at his home and the district’s headquarters. The nature of the investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school district, serving over 500,000 students, has not been disclosed.

Carvalho, who took on the role in 2022 after leading Miami public schools, will be temporarily replaced by Andres Chait, the chief of school operations. The district is cooperating with the investigation but has not provided further details.

In 2024, Carvalho promoted a deal with an AI chatbot company called AllHere, which later collapsed into bankruptcy after founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was indicted for fraud. Carvalho denied personal involvement in selecting AllHere and vowed to investigate the project’s failure.

Debra Kerr, a salesperson connected to AllHere, claimed she was not paid her commission for closing the deal with the LA district. Kerr had ties with Carvalho from his time in Florida, where her son pitched the technology to LA school leaders.

Despite Carvalho’s previous success in improving academic performance, including being named Superintendent of the Year in 2014, his tenure in Los Angeles has been overshadowed by the ongoing investigation. The Miami-Dade school system, where Carvalho previously worked, is also aware of the situation but has not commented.

Carvalho’s arrival in Los Angeles coincided with challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the district receiving relief funding but facing learning losses and enrollment declines. His stance against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and mask mandates during the pandemic has also been noted.

The investigation surrounding Carvalho and his ties to AllHere raise questions about his leadership and decision-making. The outcome of the investigation will determine the future of education in Los Angeles and the reputation of one of the nation’s prominent school superintendents.