Ian Roberts’ Fall and the Oversight Failures in Iowa’s Largest School District
ICE detention, false citizenship claims, and a fabricated doctorate raise serious questions about oversight and accountability at Des Moines Public Schools.
Last week my community was rocked by the stunning news that Dr. Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS), was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
They charge that Roberts, a native of Guyana, was living and working in the U.S. in violation of immigration law and under a deportation order issued in May 2024.
The news has shaken Iowa’s largest school district, and not merely because of immigration policy, but because of troubling - but now widely reported - allegations about Roberts’ honestly and credentials.
ICE says Roberts had a final order of removal issued in 2024 (during the Biden administration I might add) making him subject to deportation. They allege at the time of his arrest, he fled from officers during a traffic stop and was found with a loaded handgun, a hunting knife, and about $3,000 in cash.
The Des Moines School initially put him on paid leave, but then changed that to unpaid leave following the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoking his professional administrator’s license stating he lacked “legal presence” in the U.S. to hold such a role.
The Des Moines School Board was set to vote on Tuesday on terminating his contract, but Roberts instead submitted his resignation, citing concern that it would “distract” the district.
What makes the story far more lurid are the emerging reports about his claims to the Des Moines School Board and the Iowa Board of Education Examiners regarding his citizenship status and academic credentials.
According to multiple sources, Roberts signed statements and employment forms claiming he was a U.S. citizen - despite having no legal status or valid work authorization.
Moreover, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners stated that Roberts declared U.S. citizenship in his administrator license application.
To top that off, The Des Moines Register reported that Roberts never received the doctoral degree from Morgan State University that he claimed he earned and he had registered to vote in Maryland, affirming under penalty of perjury, that he was a U.S. citizen.
Regardless of one’s views on immigration policy, this story is a case study on credential vetting, institutional oversight, and trust in public institutions.
Schools are repositories of trust. Parents, teachers, students, and communities expect that their leaders are transparent, accountable, and qualified. When a superintendent - or any high-level administrator - misrepresents credentials, it undermines the confidence in the system.
This incident demands scrutiny of how school districts and credentialing boards conduct background checks.
Who is accountable for failing to verify his credentials and citizenship?
Ultimately, the buck stops with the Des Moines School Board. Students, parents, teachers, and taxpayers deserve better.