Miami Schools Chief Named Urban Superintendent Of Year

BALTIMORE, MD — Once an undocumented teenage immigrant who experienced homelessness blocks from the Miami office he now occupies, Miami schools chief Alberto M. Carvalho was named Thursday night as the 2018 Urban Superintendent of the Year, the nation's highest honor for urban educators. Carvalho was one of nine finalists that included peers from New York City, Denver, El Paso, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Charlotte and Memphis.

"I refuse to accept it unless I can accept it on behalf of the most remarkable community in our country — this new American city, the 350,000 K-12 students, the 150,000 adult learners — this remarkable visionary, student-centric board, 48,000 freedom fighters, my colleagues, my senior team and quite frankly, on behalf of the millions of students across our country," declared Carvalho in accepting the 29th Annual Green-Garner Award.

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Carvalho, who heads the fourth largest school system in America, also said he was accepting the honor on behalf of the "native born, immigrant, poor, rich, Christian, Jew, agnostic or atheist — on behalf of those who are finding out who they are, and often shut out of opportunity, on behalf of those who currently could easily be shoved back into a dark corner, on behalf of the homeless, on behalf of the undocumented, on behalf of the promise of this country."

The recognition comes less than a year after Carvalho publicly anguished over an offer to become chancellor of the world's largest school system. He eventually turned the job down despite harsh criticism from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasi0, who insisted the two had come to an agreement.

Other 2018 finalists included:

• Tom Boasberg, Denver Public Schools
• Juan Cabrera, El Paso Unified School District
• Kriner Cash, Buffalo Public Schools
• Anthony Hamlet, Pittsburgh Public Schools
• Michael Hinjosa, Dallas Independent School District
• Dorsey Hopson, Shelby County Schools
• Clayton Wilcox, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Alicja Winnicki, New York City Department of Education, District 14 in Brooklyn

Watch here as Carvalho accepts the honor at the Council of the Great City Schools’ 62nd Annual Fall Conference in Baltimore.

One of four children, Carvalho's parents never made it past the third grade. He was the first in his family to graduate from high school.

In June, Miami-Dade schools achieved what Carvalho hailed as "unparalleled success" on statewide test results and then earned its first-ever "A" designation. The district had a higher percentage of "A" ratings for its schools than schools in nearby Broward, Hillsborough, Duval, Palm Beach and Orange Counties in Florida. Miami-Dade also had no "F" rated traditional schools for the second straight year in the state.

"It doesn't belong to me. it belongs to them for they represent the best of us," Carvalho said of the honor. "Many of them will not be able to be on a stage like this. But, with our wisdom, with our belief, with our skill, with our will, we should build the stages of hope and opportunity for all of them across our beloved nation."

He described himself as a proud American by choice, "not by chance." He believes that democracy is fueled by public education.

"Educators have a chance every single day of molding and fashioning a more powerful America, a more compassionate America, a more understanding America, a more accepting America, a kinder America — not just for some, but that America that's always been the America that belongs to everyone — the native born and the recently arrived, the abled and the beautifully disabled, — the boy, the girl, the transgender, for they're all children of the same God. That is the beauty of public education. It does not discriminate. It elevates."

Carvalho's selection was based on his commitment and passion to increase student achievement, bring 21st century learning to every Miami-Dade school and his efforts to bridge any and all gaps that stand in the way of students.

His many accolades over the years include being named Florida’s 2014 Superintendent of the Year, 2014 National Superintendent of the Year, Scholastic Administrator's "Fantastic Five” educators making a difference in America and winner of the 2016 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. He also was named Magnet Schools of America 2016 Superintendent of the Year.

Named for school leaders Richard R. Green and Edward Garner, Thursday's award recognizes outstanding leadership. It is presented to a superintendent every other year to an urban board member in the alternating years.

The prize also carries $10,000 in college scholarships to be awarded by Carvalho.

In declining the New York job, Carvalho said appeared genuinely moved by the outpouring of support from Miami-Dade teachers, students and parents.

"New York stands tall. New York will continue to stand tall," he said at the time, noting that Miami too will stand tall — "and slightly warmer."

Photo by Paul Scicchitano