An embattled school district chose caution over spectacle.

Rather than gamble on a headline-grabbing outsider, the Los Angeles Unified School District turned inward, elevating longtime insider Andres Chait to lead at one of the most turbulent moments in its recent history.

The move came after the board voted unanimously to place Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave pending an investigation. Chait was named acting superintendent, effective immediately.

At 51, Chait is not a reset button. He is a homegrown product of the system he now runs.

He began teaching in 1998 and steadily climbed the ranks inside the district. His LinkedIn profile lists him as a principal from 2008 to 2012. He then moved into district leadership, serving as a field director in staff relations from 2012 to 2015 and administrator of operations from 2015 to 2020. From 2020 to 2022, he served as a local district superintendent before being promoted in October 2022 to chief of school operations — a role he held until being elevated to acting superintendent.

His educational roots trace back to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied from 1994 to 1998. His LinkedIn profile also lists graduate studies at the California State University.

Chait is now tasked with leading the very classrooms and campuses where he built his career, stepping into the top job with years of firsthand knowledge of the schools, the bureaucracy and the pressure points that define the district.

The timing could hardly be tougher. The district is still navigating the fallout from a federal probe involving its previous superintendent. Court documents tied to the searches remain sealed, and no charges have been announced, but the spectacle alone has rattled families and staff across the system.

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At the same time, enrollment has declined. Budget pressures loom. Labor negotiations remain tense. Parents addressed the board last week demanding transparency and accountability as uncertainty swirled at the top.

When LAUSD introduced Chait on Instagram with a polished “Meet Los Angeles Unified Acting Superintendent Andres Chait” post, the reaction was immediate and revealing.

The comment section lit up fast. “Let’s go Mr. Chait,” one commenter wrote. Another called him “fair, trustworthy and will get the job done.” One person who said they knew him from high school described him as a “smart guy” who would “do a great job.” Others expressed relief that “at least he’s actually worked in LAUSD.”

But the applause came with a punch list. “Andrés can we get rid of iReady?” one parent asked.

“Please bargain in good faith with UTLA and SEIU,” another urged. “Are we paying two superintendent salaries now??” a commenter demanded.

Several commenters went straight for the jugular on discipline and safety, demanding tougher consequences for violent behavior and blasting what they see as soft district policies. Others voiced broader distrust of leadership. “Hope he’s not shady too,” one user wrote. Another bluntly declared, “Horrible choice.”

Chait’s own message has been measured. He said he is humbled by the board’s confidence and that the focus remains on stability, continuity and strong leadership for students, families and employees.