Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts was arrested by ICE agents this week, prompting revelations that his professional credentials may be falsified and his background includes multiple criminal convictions.
Roberts, who led Iowa’s largest school district since mid-2023, reportedly claimed to hold degrees from prestigious institutions—such as MIT, Harvard, Georgetown, and Morgan State—that investigators have been unable to verify.
In addition, federal authorities allege Roberts has prior convictions related to weapons and narcotics offenses. These fresh disclosures come after his arrest for allegedly residing illegally in the U.S. and attempting to evade agents by fleeing in a district vehicle.
Following the revelations, the school board revoked his credentials and accepted his resignation. The district has also filed suit against the consulting firm that vetted Roberts, accusing it of negligence in failing to uncover the discrepancies during hiring.