The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, Ian Roberts, has come under fire after federal authorities revealed he had a history of criminal charges and was in the U.S. illegally. Roberts was arrested last week by immigration agents, shocking the Des Moines community and leading the school board to sue the consulting firm it hired to vet him.
Roberts, originally from Guyana, was hired by Des Moines Public Schools in 2023 to lead the district serving about 30,000 students. However, officials said Roberts had been without work authorization for several years and had a record that included drug possession and intent to sell charges from 1996, weapons charges in 2020 and 2022, and a dismissed charge for unauthorized use of a vehicle in 1998.
Despite pleading guilty to a 2022 weapons charge involving the unlawful carrying of a loaded hunting rifle in a vehicle, the district says it was aware of that charge early in Roberts’ tenure. Federal officials did not provide details on the outcomes of other charges. Roberts’ lawyer argued that charges do not equal convictions and criticized federal authorities for spreading old information in what he called a "fear-mongering" effort.
The controversy has raised questions about how Roberts was hired and licensed. Des Moines Public Schools required candidates to disclose any charges during the background check, but it’s unclear how Roberts answered these questions. The school district’s background check was done by a third party and has not been made public. Iowa’s education board conducts its own criminal history checks but can only deny licenses based on convictions, not charges.
After Roberts ran from a traffic stop, he was arrested. This sparked protests, with students walking out and community members demanding answers. Roberts resigned as superintendent after the state revoked his license. He now faces federal charges for possessing four firearms while illegally in the country. Authorities said one of the guns was found wrapped in a towel inside a school vehicle he was driving.
The district stated that Roberts signed forms claiming he was a U.S. citizen and provided a Social Security card and driver’s license. Officials said they were unaware of an order of removal issued against him in 2024. Federal records show Roberts entered the U.S. in 1994 with a visitor visa, returned in 1999 on a student visa that expired in 2004, and was denied a green card in 2003. He obtained work authorization briefly in 2018 and again until 2020. In 2020, he was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge, who recently denied reopening his case.
In a separate issue, the district revealed that Roberts falsely claimed on his resume to have earned a doctorate from Morgan State University in 2007. While he was enrolled in the program, he did not complete his dissertation or earn the degree. This discrepancy was flagged during his hiring process, and the school board was shown a revised resume noting he had not completed the doctorate.
Des Moines Public Schools is now suing JG Consulting, the firm that ran the superintendent search, accusing it of negligence and breach of contract. The school board said the consulting company failed to properly vet Roberts, allowing him to be presented as a finalist despite his background. JG Consulting responded by saying Roberts provided the necessary documents and that any immigration discrepancies were not discovered in his previous jobs or by other firms.
As the story unfolds, the community continues to grapple with the shock and betrayal felt after learning about Roberts’ past, while the school board works to repair its reputation and recover taxpayer funds.