Miami-Dade School Board member Larry Feldman had the best intentions when he planned a birthday surprise for Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.

But the gift -- a performance by a troupe from Actors' Playhouse -- made for an awkward moment at last week's School Board meeting.

Four actresses serenaded Carvalho, 45, with a doo-wop medley from the show The Marvelous Wonderettes about four high school girls in the '50s and '60s. As they called Carvalho down from the dais, the actresses blew kisses and cooed.

``Teacher's pet,'' they sang. ``I wanna be teacher's pet. I wanna be huddled and cuddled, as close to you as I can get.''

Carvalho looked down, visibly uncomfortable.

``I don't embarrass that easily,'' he said when he returned to the dais. ``But I was embarrassed.''

Feldman, who saw the show, said he didn't choose the song -- and that he hadn't reviewed the lyrics to Teacher's Pet. He hadn't meant to make anyone uncomfortable, he said.

``It was his birthday,'' said Feldman, 59. ``I thought we should do something nice for him. He supports the performing arts and arts education . . . I thought it was only natural that there should be some type of performance in his honor.''

Feldman immediately apologized for the ``over-the-top'' performance. In hindsight, he said, he wouldn't have done it.

A year ago, reports circulated that Carvalho had a romantic relationship with a former Miami Herald education reporter. Carvalho has denied the allegations.

-- KATHLEEN McGRORY

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