The Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) hired Superintendent Ian Roberts in June 2023 with some background checks conducted, but questions remain about how much the district knew about his immigration status.
In February 2023, the school board announced a closed search for the new superintendent. The board hired JG Consulting to conduct the search and Baker-Eubanks to perform a comprehensive background check on finalists, including Roberts. However, it’s unclear whether these checks included verifying his immigration status.
Roberts’ I-9 form was submitted during the hiring process, but he received a court-issued “final order of removal” in May 2024 from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The district claimed they were not aware of this situation or the order of removal at the time of his hiring.
The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners conducted background checks as part of Roberts’ licensure process, but these checks did not include confirming whether he could legally work in the United States. The state Department of Education is reviewing DMPS’ hiring procedures to ensure compliance with the law.
Roberts has a professional administrator license set to expire in December 2028 and claimed to be a U.S. citizen on his licensure application. However, some questions remain about how well the district vetted him during the hiring process.
The Des Moines School Board placed Roberts on paid administrative leave after voting to do so at its Sept. 27 special meeting. The board’s decision comes as the community continues to grapple with the superintendent’s background and immigration status.
Source: https://eu.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2025/09/28/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-background-check-ian-roberts/86375977007