Who will replace Carvalho? Several mentioned, including current, former district leaders
It’s been almost two weeks since Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced he’d be leaving Miami to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District in California, and the million-dollar question — Who will be the next leader? — remains at the top of minds to see who will run the state’s largest school district.
Last week, the School Board authorized Chairwoman Perla Tabares Hantman to negotiate the terms of Carvalho’s departure and call a special meeting in January to discuss the “parameters and critical elements that will govern the identification of qualified candidates for the position of superintendent of schools.”
Much else about what happens next or who is in the running for the top job is unknown. There are, however, names of those rumored to be interested in the job and others who have the qualifications to do so.
Carvalho declined to comment on who could or should be his successor, but said in an interview there are individuals in his administration and those that have moved to other districts that are capable.
“There are plenty of opportunities (and) a lot of talent,” he told the Herald. “Now, the mystery and the magic is marrying the talent that exists to the reality needs of the position.”
Here, then, is a look at some potential candidates:
Current Miami-Dade Schools Employees
Dawn Baglos, Chief Human Capital Officer
As the former principal of Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High, Dawn Baglos already has led the district through challenging events. She was the school’s leader when Trayvon Martin was killed. The 17-year-old was a student at Krop at the time of his death in 2012, when he was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford, while he was walking back from a convenience store trip to get candy. He was visiting his father. In her role as a district administrator, she’s also been involved in teacher salary negotiations with the union.
Sylvia Diaz, Chief Academic Officer
Sylvia Diaz served as an assistant superintendent and an administrative director before becoming the school district’s chief academic officer in January, according to LinkedIn. She replaced Marie Izquierdo, who was responsible, along with Diaz, for selecting K12, the virtual learning provider that failed when schools reopened in August 2020. Upon her promotion, she received a 10% pay raise and is in the district’s highest pay grade.
Michael Lewis, Regional Supt., Central Region
In January, Michael Lewis became the district’s first Haitian-American regional superintendent, in charge of the Central Region. Prior to becoming a regional leader, Lewis was former administrator and a teacher in the district.
Jaime Torrens, Deputy Superintendent
Jaime Torrens has been with the school district since 1985. He has held various positions, mostly related to district operations and facilities management, including chief of staff and the chief facilities officer. During the pandemic, Torrens, who was eligible for retirement, worked under an emergency order as the deputy superintendent.
Former Miami-Dade Schools Employees
Jose Dotres, Deputy Superintendent of Collier County Public Schools
Jose Dotres announced in February he was leaving to become deputy superintendent of Collier County Public Schools on the state’s west coast (Naples area). He had been working in the Miami school district since 1988. In the 2013-14 school year, he served as Broward County Public Schools’ chief academic officer, but later returned to Miami in 2014 as Carvalho’s chief of staff. At the School Board meeting on Dec. 15, various board members floated Dotres as a possible contender for the job after recognizing his years of service in the district.
Jesus Jara, Clark County Public Schools Superintendent
Jesus Jara became superintendent of Clark County Public Schools in Las Vegas in 2018. It’s the fifth-largest district in the country. In October, the School Board voted to terminate his contract, but in a statement released earlier this month, Jara announced he was returning as superintendent, according to 8 News Now. Jara got his start as a bilingual biology teacher and coach in Miami-Dade, according to his bio. He is from Venezuela.
Nikolai Vitti, Detroit Public Schools Superintendent
Nikolai Vitti was appointed to lead Detroit schools in 2017 with a five-year contract. On Dec. 8, the Detroit School Board extended his contract until 2025. Previously, he was the superintendent of Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville. In Miami-Dade, he served as chief academic officer and assistant superintendent for the district. In 2017, when rumors circulated that Carvalho could run for Congress, board members floated possible candidates who could replace him, including Vitti.
Others
Manny Díaz Jr., Republican state senator, Hialeah
Manny Díaz Jr. is a vocal advocate of school choice across the state, including the expansion of voucher programs such as the HOPE Scholarship program. He is the chief operating officer of Doral College. The college was founded through a partnership between Doral Academy Preparatory and Academica, a network of public charter schools, under the premise of providing a private, junior college inside a high school. He is an ally of Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, whom Carvalho has battled over mask mandates in the schools.
Earlier this year, a former student of his when he was a teacher at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High accused Díaz of making inappropriate comments about drugs and clubbing to students, in addition to making comments about girls’ appearances. JennyLee Molina’s comments were largely corroborated by two other former students who spoke to the Herald. Díaz denied the accusations.
Jim Haj, president and CEO of Children’s Trust
Jim Haj has a longstanding relationship with Miami-Dade Schools that predates his tenure as head of the Children’s Trust, which he joined as president and CEO in 2016. In the district offices, he served as assistant superintendent of Miami-Dade schools and administrative director for M-DCPS’ south and central regions. At the schoolhouse, he was the principal of Paul W. Bell Middle and Southwest Miami High, from which he graduated.
This story was originally published December 22, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
