Carvalho Reappears at Hollywood Gala Amid Investigation
Former Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho made a notable appearance Wednesday night at a Hollywood gala, where he was granted the “Courage in Leadership” award, just a few months after an FBI investigation disrupted his career.
The 61-year-old was recognized by the nonprofit Families in Schools for his stance against ICE and former President Trump.
Images obtained show Carvalho arriving in a white SUV and receiving valet service. Dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt and black pants, he was noticed adjusting his trousers as he walked into the venue.
He engaged in conversation with a man in a suit, exchanging handshakes before continuing into the event.
This marked one of Carvalho’s rare public appearances since February 25, when his home and office were raided by FBI agents, a move that dramatically altered his leadership role in the nation’s second-largest school district.
Prior to the gala, he had made only one public outing—a shopping trip with his wife at a Von’s supermarket near their affluent home.
Federal agents also investigated the Miami residence of a technology consultant involved in a controversial deal between LA Unified and a startup that was supposed to provide an AI-based chatbot for the district.
Despite being under the federal investigation that led to his ousting from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Carvalho attended the event. Although he has not faced any charges, he has largely retreated from public life during the investigation.
Since his removal, Carvalho has received over $100,000 in taxpayer-funded salary despite having no official duties, while taxpayers are also covering the salary of acting Superintendent Andres Chait, who earns $395,867 per year.
This creates a situation where taxpayers are effectively funding two superintendents amid the ongoing FBI inquiry, even though they were not involved in the issues surrounding Carvalho’s departure. He now reportedly spends much of his time at the couple’s $2.5 million home as public funds continue to support him.
Sonya Shaw, the Republican nominee for California’s superintendent, criticized the decision to honor Carvalho, given the ongoing federal investigation into his actions. “California’s students are falling behind, parents are losing trust, and LAUSD remains under FBI surveillance. It’s hard for families to see this as ‘courage in leadership,’” she stated.
Shaw, who serves as the president of the Chino Valley School Board, remarked, “This is just another example of the culture of fraud and corruption in California, where they’re awarding each other while under investigation.”
Families in Schools explains on its website that its aim is to create effective partnerships among families, educators, and leaders to promote student success through parent advocacy.
