How probe into failed startup led to LAUSD superintendent investigation
How probe into failed startup led to LAUSD superintendent investigation
Publish Date: 2026-03-01 06:00:00
Source Domain: www.latimes.com
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Leadership Connection: Alberto Carvalho and Debra Kerr share a history rooted in Florida’s education community, with personal and professional ties extending through their educational careers and public acknowledgment through social media.
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AllHere Collaboration: In 2023, Carvalho as head of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and Kerr working for AllHere, a startup that promised revolutionary AI-based educational support tools, collaborated on a $6-million project.
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Project Failure and Collapse: Despite a grand launch, the AllHere project failed within months, leading to the company’s bankruptcy due to alleged fraud by its CEO, Joanna Smith-Griffin, who misrepresented the startup’s financial success and customer base to investors.
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Investigation and FBI Involvement: The FBI launched an investigation into AllHere, focusing on the alleged fraud by Smith-Griffin, which led to searches of the homes of Carvalho and Kerr, along with the LAUSD headquarters.
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Carvalho’s Administrative Leave: LAUSD placed Carvalho on indefinite administrative leave, casting uncertainty over his leadership of the nation’s second-largest school district amid the allegations and investigation.
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AllHere’s Financial Deception: Prosecutors claim Smith-Griffin misled investors by inflating AllHere’s revenue and customer base, seeking nearly $10 million, a portion of which she allegedly used for personal expenses such as a house payment and a wedding.
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Kerr’s Creditor Status: Debra Kerr is listed as the largest creditor to AllHere, owed $630,000, though the validity of this debt is disputed, and she reported not receiving commission payments from LAUSD contract sales.
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Minimal Financial Exposure for LAUSD: Despite the scandal, LAUSD’s exposure through AllHere remains relatively minor, with $3 million expenditure against the district’s multi-billion dollar budget.
