Suspended LAUSD boss Alberto Carvalho has been spotted for the first time in nearly three months — as he spends his days pacing around the courtyard of his California home while collecting tens of thousands in taxpayers’ cash.
The schools boss, who has earned about $90,000 since the FBI raided his homes and offices in February, is living a low-key life in isolation at his $2.5 million San Pedro house, the California Post can reveal.
The 61-year-old was seen doing laps of his rooftop yard over three days last week before briefly breaking cover for an incognito shopping trip with his wife, Maria.
Carvalho went into hiding on February 25 after federal agents launched a dramatic raid on his homes in California and Florida as well as his office in downtown Los Angeles.
The Bureau has refused to release specific details on the operation but sources revealed it is linked to a corruption scandal from a botched AI education company from his time as Miami-Dade schools chief.
The Portuguese-born politician, who came to America when he was 17 and stayed illegally on a visitor visa before becoming a legal US citizen, has sparked fury for still collecting his $440,000 a year paycheck.
The Post found him living a quiet life in isolation at his 2,000-square-foot San Pedro home while the FBI continues to sift through their case against him.
Over three days last week he was seen pacing around his rooftop patio above the garage before heading back inside while Maria occasionally left the house.
On one of the days, neither of them left the property at all, with their white Hyundai Tucson SUV remaining parked in the driveway unmoved.
But on Friday Carvalho broke cover as he headed out disguised in a hoodie and baseball cap for a brief shopping trip around lunchtime to pick up groceries from their local Vons supermarket.
Marie drove as the under fire schools chief sat in the passenger seat wearing the sweater zipped up, with a navy cap, black jeans and Nike running sneakers.
As the pair left the store, Maria was seen smiling while her husband pushed their trolley packed with at least three bags full of goods.
Carvalho, who owns at least seven properties across California and Florida worth more than $6 million, then drove them back to their home before they carried the groceries up the steps and into their home.
When asked about the investigation into him, he simply smiled and told The Post: “We’re talking to our attorney at this point.”
Neighbors shed more light on his life behind closed doors, with one revealing they allegedly have confronted him in the past over accessing their property without permission.
John Schafer, 62, described Carvalho as pushy and “assertive,” recounting how he once caught him climbing over his fence to get into his backyard while carrying garden trimmers.
Schafer, who lives two doors down from Carvalhos, claimed he was attempting to trim a bush growing on a fence.
He told The Post: “He climbed into my backyard to cut the bush. It was a really bizarre experience. It happened at the beginning of his term as Superintendent.”
He continued: “In the end, I helped him trim the bush. It held sentimental value to me because I buried my cat under it.”
Shortly before Feds raided Carvalho’s home overlooking the Pacific, Schafer had another encounter with him. That time he offered to pay for Schafter to trim a large fir tree in his backyard.
“I said the tree is healthy right now, relax,” recalled Schafer, who previously worked for the California School Employees Association.
Carvalho was placed on paid leave at the start of March as reports about the scope of the FBI’s investigation became clear.
LAUSD, the nation’s second largest public school district with 500,000 children, brought in Andrés Chait as acting superintendent later that month, with him earning $396,000 annually while getting a monthly car allowance for drives to school functions.
It comes despite the school district being in crisis mode over a staggering $1.6 billion deficit by 2027-2028 while enrollment plummets and federal COVID relief funding vanishing.
It has also struggled with declining test scores, potential school closures and tense negotiations with powerful teachers unions.
Sonja Shaw, the Republican pick for California state superintendent, which oversees statewide education, gave a blistering statement when asked about Carvalho.
She told the California Post: “Alberto Carvalho is the poster child for everything that’s wrong with California schools.
“During his tenure with LAUSD, we saw endless scandals, rock-bottom academic results, parents kept completely in the dark.
“Our schools desperately need leaders who are focused on protecting our kids and preparing them for the future, not political insiders who hide and shield the predators who abused them.”
Carvalho has only ever commented on the FBI investigation through his lawyers, breaking his silence two weeks after the raids.
A statement read: “Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students.
“We hope the school board reinstates him promptly to his position as superintendent.” His attorneys insisted federal prosecutors had presented no evidence proving Carvalho violated any laws.
They added: “Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law.”
An FBI official confirmed to The Post court-authorized warrants led to searches at LAUSD headquarters and Carvalho’s home, but those affidavits remain under seal and no criminal charges have been filed.
LAUSD did not respond to a request for an updated comment.
