The Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) Board of Directors has unanimously voted to place Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave. This decision follows his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday over an immigration removal order issued earlier this year.
Key Takeaways
- The DMPS board voted 7-0 to place Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave.
- The action was taken after Dr. Roberts was detained by ICE due to a final removal order from May 2024.
- District officials and the Iowa Department of Education stated that all background checks and employment documents showed Dr. Roberts was a U.S. citizen eligible for work.
- Former Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will continue to serve as the interim superintendent.
Board Holds Emergency Session
In a special session held Saturday at an administrative office, the Des Moines Public Schools board addressed the employment status of Dr. Ian Roberts. The meeting was convened specifically to determine the course of action regarding his leadership of the district.
Following discussions, the board voted 7-0 in favor of placing Dr. Roberts on paid administrative leave until more information becomes available. Board member Kimberly Martorano explained the board's position during the meeting.
"While there is still much that we don’t know, what we do know is that Dr. Roberts is currently unavailable to perform his duties as superintendent," Martorano stated.
With Dr. Roberts unable to lead the district, DMPS confirmed that Matt Smith, the former associate superintendent, will remain in his role as interim superintendent. Smith was appointed to the position on Friday shortly after news of the detention became public.
Background on the Situation
According to information released by ICE, an immigration judge issued a final removal order for Dr. Roberts in May 2024. School officials have stated they were not informed of this order or any related immigration proceedings prior to his detention on Friday, September 26, 2025.
District Officials Unaware of Immigration Issues
Following the vote, DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris read a prepared statement, which was also distributed to parents through the district's communication app. Norris emphasized that the news was a shock to the school community.
"I want to be clear today: we still do not have all of the facts," Norris said. "According to ICE, in May 2024, an immigration judge issued a final removal order for Dr. Roberts. We were not made aware of that fact and that’s very concerning."
Norris asserted that the district had no knowledge of any citizenship or immigration challenges Dr. Roberts was facing. She explained that all documentation provided by Dr. Roberts during his hiring indicated he was a U.S. citizen eligible for employment.
"Everything the district has on file indicates Dr. Robert affirmed that he was a citizen who was eligible to work for the school district," she added. This includes the mandatory I-9 employment eligibility verification form.
State Licensing Process
The Iowa Department of Education issued a superintendent license to Dr. Roberts in 2023. An agency spokesperson confirmed that an FBI criminal background check did not reveal any issues, and Dr. Roberts had declared he was a U.S. citizen on his application.
Review of the Hiring and Vetting Process
Norris provided a detailed timeline of the superintendent search that led to the hiring of Dr. Roberts in 2023. She confirmed that a comprehensive background check was conducted as part of the standard procedure for all district employees.
Timeline of Superintendent Search
- December 2022: DMPS contracted with the search firm JG Consulting to find qualified candidates.
- January-March 2023: The board worked with the firm to define qualifications and recruit candidates.
- April 11-13, 2023: The School Board conducted candidate interviews.
- May 16, 2023: The board approved a contract with Dr. Roberts.
- July 1, 2023: Dr. Roberts officially began his role as Superintendent.
The contract with JG Consulting required the firm to disclose any known positive or negative information about candidates. This included commissioning a third-party background check.
The search firm used a company named Baker-Eubanks to conduct a comprehensive criminal, credit, and background check. According to Norris, this check "found nothing related to citizenship or immigration matters related to Dr. Roberts."
Dr. Roberts has over 20 years of experience as an educator and school administrator, having worked in Pennsylvania, Missouri, Maryland, Washington D.C., and New York before his appointment in Iowa.
A Call for Calm and Factual Discourse
In her statement, Norris addressed the community's reaction to the news, urging for a measured response and cautioning against the spread of misinformation.
"We all need to cool down the rhetoric. We should promote true discourse and facts, not spread misinformation meant to divide us," she urged. "Our elected officials need to behave like role models for our children – enough with the name calling and misinformation that is meant to divide us."
Norris highlighted the potential impact on the district's 35,000 students, noting their constant exposure to online and social media narratives. She affirmed the district's commitment to supporting students and staff while continuing to investigate the facts of the case.
"We must continue to pursue the facts in this case and understand our school community is still processing this very significant issue."
The district has confirmed it is cooperating fully with requests for information from state authorities. Meanwhile, Dr. Roberts has retained legal counsel from the Parrish Kruidenier Law Firm, which has issued a statement confirming its representation.
