It had the suspense of LeBron James’ prime-time “Decision” and the drama of a "telenovela." The Miami-Dade County School Board had hastily convened to learn the fate of its longest serving superintendent. (THREAD)
Was Alberto Carvalho really leaving for New York City, where he had been offered the job of running the nation’s largest school district? hrld.us/2OD2lBY 
After 3 hours in which School Board members, students and others lavished Carvalho with praise, the superintendent turned down the job on live TV. The March 2018 meeting was dubbed "The Carvalho Show," angering New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office.
And yet, when the School Board met in August 2018 to discuss extending his contract, board members picked it apart.
That’s the thing about Carvalho: Even after everything he’s done, 11 years later, people are still making up their minds about him.
That’s the thing about Carvalho: Even after everything he’s done, 11 years later, people are still making up their minds about him.
For more than a decade, Carvalho’s highs have been matched by his lows. His storybook rise from immigrant to superintendent was marred by revelations of a “regrettable” alleged affair with a journalist. His career survived, and he went on to win a trove of awards.
And the New York debacle? Carvalho said he was breaking a promise among adults to keep a promise with children, but text messages with New York staff later revealed he haggled over speaking fees and was dismayed that he was dealing with staff and not the mayor.
When the Miami-Dade School Board was beginning to buck him, some members reduced themselves to begging him to stay. hrld.us/30Z923X
Carvalho had created a power play in which he forced Miami to basically negotiate against itself. He maneuvered the School Board that day just like he had in the past decade.
“He capitalizes on the art of the deal,” said Enid Weisman, Carvalho’s longtime mentor and colleague who’s now the mayor of Aventura.
“He visualizes where he wants to be maybe tomorrow, maybe two years. He visualizes himself in roles.”
“He visualizes where he wants to be maybe tomorrow, maybe two years. He visualizes himself in roles.”
But Carvalho remains somewhat of an enigma. Even members of his inner-circle have no idea how long he’ll stay or what he’ll do next.
The @MiamiHerald pored over School Board agendas, minutes and schedules and interviewed Carvalho and more than 30 people in his orbit to delve into how the most popular un-elected official in Miami-Dade came to be. hrld.us/2OD2lBY
