A federal investigation is currently looking into LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, focusing on a consultant from Florida. This consultant, named Debra Kerr, is a Jamaican-born educator who has a background as a former runner-up for Miss Jamaica. Her son, David “Davo” Carr Jr., is a rapper and actor based in Los Angeles, and he is the son of legendary guitarist Junior Marvin, known for his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Davo starred in the 2024 film “Bob Marley: One Love,” where he portrayed his father. Junior Marvin originally joined Bob Marley’s band in 1977, famously declining an invitation from Stevie Wonder to collaborate.
The film, directed by Reynaldo Marcus Green and featuring Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley, details the reggae legend’s rise and the production of his pivotal album, “Exodus.” Davo recounts his journey to secure the role as deeply personal and memorable.
Kerr runs a consulting firm called LeadershipMax LLC, which she started in Hollywood, Florida, after a corporate career. She presents herself as an experienced sales and marketing expert in the education sector, particularly focused on K-12 education, and emphasizes her accomplishments in driving growth and market development.
She held significant roles at Pearson, an educational publishing company, and played a part in expanding the market presence of the firm behind ABCmouse, an educational resource for younger children.
Kerr’s work history includes managing sales teams and fostering government relations across various states, showcasing her breadth of experience. Junior Marvin, raised in Jamaica and later in London, built a diverse career before joining Marley’s group.
FBI agents executed search warrants at Carvalho’s home and office as part of this secret investigation linked to the now-defunct education technology startup, AllHere. The company had secured a contract with LAUSD worth up to $6 million to develop an educational chatbot named “Ed,” though LAUSD ultimately spent $3 million before cancelling.
No arrests had been reported as of Thursday morning. The founder of AllHere, Joanna Smith Griffin, faced charges in Manhattan related to fraud and identity theft, accused of misrepresenting the company’s financial viability. AllHere subsequently declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Mr. Carvalho has refuted allegations of personal involvement in vendor decisions and has described the potential misconduct of Smith-Griffin as a troubling situation. LAUSD is cooperating with the federal investigation.
Kerr had connections to Carvalho dating back to his leadership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and was associated with AllHere in a consulting capacity. During bankruptcy proceedings, she claimed the company owed her $630,000 for unpaid fees related to services provided to LAUSD.
Kerr had previously praised Carvalho in a social media post, sharing an image of herself alongside him at a district event where he spoke. In the photo, she mentioned that his speech was inspiring, tagging it with hashtags related to LAUSD and leadership.
Kerr’s son, Richard, serves as an account executive at AllHere and indicated that his mother was instrumental in securing the partnership with LAUSD.
