Mariana Dale has been reporting on changes in LAUSD’s leadership since the FBI searched Alberto Carvalho's home in February.
Published Jun 24, 2026 4:01 PM
Andres Chait, acting superintendent, at a March 2026 LAUSD board meeting.
(
Jason Armond
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
The Los Angeles Unified Board voted unanimously to appoint Andres Chait, a longtime district administrator, as superintendent days after his predecessor resigned.
“This board's decision reflects the confidence in Mr. Chait's leadership, his decades of service to Los Angeles Unified, and his demonstrated ability to guide the district during this period of transition,” said board President Scott Schmerelson.
The board met privately to discuss the district’s top job three days after Alberto Carvalho resigned. Carvalho wrote in a letter that he was leaving “because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction.”
The board placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave following FBI searches of his home and district office in February and appointed Chait acting superintendent. Carvalho has not been charged with a crime and has maintained his innocence.
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Who is Andres Chait?
Chait rose through the ranks from teacher to administrator at LAUSD over nearly three decades. The responsibilities of his most recent role, chief of school operations, included overseeing school safety, athletics and the district’s office of emergency management.
Chait thanked the board, the community and his family after the announcement Wednesday and reflected on his first day as a kindergarten teacher 30 years ago. “ I was probably more nervous than the kids were, but I knew then that this was a place where I could make a positive difference in the lives of students and families,” Chait said. “I've always known that there is no greater accelerator of change and opportunity than the schoolhouse, and that is still true today.”
What is the superintendent responsible for?
LAUSD is the country’s second-largest school district, employs 83,000 people and enrolls more than 400,000 students across more than 1,000 schools. Despite recent gains in student test scores, the majority of students are not proficient in reading and math skills for their grade level. The district also faces looming financial challenges from declining enrollment — which is tied to state funding — and federal investigations into programs designed to help underserved students succeed.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
LAUSD Superintendents (1990-present)
- Bill Antón (July 1990-Sept. 1992)
- Sidney Thompson (Oct. 1992-June 1997)
- Ruben Zacarias (July 1997-Jan. 2000)
- Ramón Cortines* (Jan. 2000-June 2000)
- Roy Romer (July 2000-Oct. 2006)
- David Brewer (Nov. 2006-Dec. 2008)
- Ramon Cortines* (Jan. 2009-Apr. 2011)
- John Deasy (Apr. 2011-Oct. 2014)
- Ramon Cortines* (Oct. 2014-Dec. 2015)
- Michelle King (Jan. 2016-Sept. 2017)
- Vivian Ekchian* (Sept. 2017-May 2018)
- Austin Beutner (May 2018-June 2021)
- Megan Reilly* (July 2021-February 2022)
- Alberto Carvalho (February 2022-June 2026)
- Andres Chait* (February 2026-present)
* Denotes interim
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