Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, was named winner of the 2016 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. Carvalho will receive the U.S. K-12 prize for his “exemplary leadership in raising standards and improving graduation rates in a complex urban district, which is an outstanding model for others.”
"The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education is among our nation’s most coveted awards for education leaders, and I am both humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” said Carvalho. “It’s a testament to the unparalleled work and dedication of our teachers and education leaders, and the visionary leadership of our School Board. Miami-Dade County Public Schools continues to set the standard for high academic achievement, and with every recognition we receive, our district and students benefit from greater opportunities.”
Carvalho has served as Miami-Dade’s Superintendent since 2008, shepherding the nation’s fourth largest school district with remarkable success. The district has significantly increased graduation rates, narrowed the achievement gap, and returned to fiscal health. Dozens of new programs, including Carvalho’s own iPrep Academy, are offered to students each year. Carvalho has dedicated himself not only to ensuring student success in the classroom, but also to finding solutions to the community violence that has been claiming student lives. Carvalho was named National Superintendent of the Year in 2014. Born in Portugal, he was the first person in his family to graduate from high school, and arrived in the U.S. at age 17 speaking no English.
The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education honors innovation and has become one of the most prestigious educational awards since its founding in 1988. The Prize recognizes outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to improving education through new approaches and whose accomplishments are making a difference today. Honorees receive an award of $50,000 and a bronze sculpture.
The Prize ceremony and dinner will be held at the ASU GSV Education Innovation Summit in San Diego on April 19, 2016.