Carvalho Turns Down Job As Chancellor Of New York Schools

MIAMI, FL —Miami-Dade County Public Schools superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said on Thursday he is turning down the job as chancellor of the New York City public school system. Speaking at a special meeting of the school board, Carvalho received cheers when he said he will stay in the nation's fourth largest school district and forego the offer to lead the largest school system in the world. The announcement followed several hours of public pleas for the popular educator to stay in Miami.

"I am touched by your words. I am humbled," said Carvalho on Thursday at the special meeting in which school board members and the public pulled out all of the stops to convince him to remain on the job. "A couple of times I found it difficult to remain composed. You invoked all that was important to me, the words of my father, the words of my mother, their lives, my own personal journey, my humble beginning in this country, my humble beginning in this school system."

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Carvalho's decision was unprecedented. He told reporters that he spoke with Carvalho on Wednesday night.

"I'm very, very surprised. I have a lot of respect for him, but I'm very surprised," de Blasio acknowledged, adding that Carvalho was offered the position and accepted it. "He told me repeatedly this was his dream job. Something else happened here and maybe you guys can figure out what it is."

Carvalho, who anguished over the decision, appeared moved by the public outpouring of emotion, which may explain his sudden decision to stay in Miami.

"New York stands tall. New York will continue to stand tall," Carvalho said, noting that Miami too will stand tall — "and slightly warmer."

De Blasio said that officials have already resumed the search.

"We have been immediately reaching out to candidates," he said. "I'm very confident in our school system.

Carvalho also said at the special board meeting that there was more work to be done in Miami.

"I know the job is not yet finished. A real job is never finished," he said.

The superintendent also spoke out against President Trump's push to have some qualified teachers carry guns in the classroom.

"I want our teachers to put a marker on a board, to grade a paper, to inspire, to teach, to love, to lead but not to carry a weapon," he said. "It is not their duty."

Carvalho would have replaced Carmen Farina, who is retiring as the New York chancellor.

All of the Miami-Dade School Board members pleaded with Carvalho to stay in Miami during the special meeting.

"Your calling is here. Your family is here," said one member. "I wouldn't want to think that there is another here."

Carvalho has led Miami-Dade's school system since 2008.

At one time, Carvalho was rumored to be eyeing a congressional run to replace retiring Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring at the end of her term.

In late June, Carvalho proudly flashed a thumbs up as he declared that the "impossible has become the inevitable," when he announced there were no "F" rated traditional public schools in the Miami area for the first time ever. The state of Florida released its annual education report cards earlier in the day.

Carvalho was selected as Florida's 2014 Superintendent of the Year, as well as the 2014 National Superintendent of the Year.

Speaking at the special meeting, William Delgado said he had worked with the school system since 1991 but had never run across anyone like Carvalho.

"I'm begging you as a friend. I'm begging you as president of an association here in Miami with tears in my eyes for you to stay," he pleaded at the meeting. "I learned many, many years ago there's a lot of factors in life. But the biggest factor in life is love. You are loved my friend in this community. You are loved by all these people. You are loved by staff. You are respected."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Photo of Alberto M. Carvalho courtesy Miami-Dade