Q&A
Los Angeles Unified School District named Andres Chait its latest superintendent in June.
A
New Los Angeles Schools Leader Says Transportation Drives Student Equity, Access and Success
ndres Chait took the dais July 22 in front of his “family,” who he said he needed not to introduce himself to as Los Angeles Unified
School District’s new superintendent. That is because he has worked at the nation’s second-largest, K-12 public school district for the past two decades, first as a Kindergar- ten teacher then a principal and in various leadership positions before assuming the role of chief of school operations in 2022. As such, he oversaw student transportation. A school bus guy of sorts, Chait was named the full-time superintendent of schools after serving in an interim role amid an FBI probe of his former boss, Alberto Carvalho, for al- leged acceptance of gifts from a technology vendor, unreported travel and undisclosed side income. School Transportation News caught up with Chait
before the start of the new school year—and days before he gave his Opening of Schools Address 2026. He spoke there about the need to put students at the center of ev- ery decision by staying grounded in collected values and unified in purpose. First, he shared with STN his outlook on student trans-
portation and its role in educational access and helping to address the school district’s mounting financial challenges.
STN: How does your background in overseeing the
operational side of LAUSD shape the way you’ll lead the district differently than someone who solely came from an academic or instructional rolel? Chait: I’ve been fortunate to lead both instructional
and operational teams throughout my career, and I’ve come to believe those two worlds are inseparable. Great instruction can only happen when the systems that sup- port our schools are working well. Whether it’s transportation, nutrition, technology, facilities or school operations, every function exists to
16 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2026
LAUSD adopted a pledge to significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuels by 2030 and to attain 100-percent renewable energy by 2040.
support teaching and learning. My leadership approach is grounded in making sure our schools have reliable, efficient systems so principals and teachers can focus on students. Every operational decision ultimately should answer one question: How does this improve the experi- ence and outcomes for our students? STN: Two main reasons cited by the school board for
your hire are budget deficits and declining student en- rollment. What does stability of budget and enrollment look like to you over the next two school years, and how does transportation factor in? Chait: Stability means making thoughtful decisions
that protect the classroom while putting the district on solid financial footing for the future. That requires careful stewardship of public resources, continuous improvement and investing where we know it makes the
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