It Just Got Even Worse

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By now you've probably heard this insane story. But it just got even worse. The tale of Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, has unraveled into a breathtaking scandal that exposes not just individual deceit but a cascade of institutional incompetence and misplaced priorities. Initially, the shocking revelation that Roberts, an undocumented immigrant from Guyana, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on September 26, 2025, while in possession of a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife, sent shockwaves through the community. This alone should have been enough to trigger a full-scale investigation into how such a figure rose to lead Iowa’s largest school district. But the plot thickens—and the worst part is that this illegal alien also lied about possessing a doctoral degree, a fabrication that undermines the very foundation of his authority and highlights the egregious negligence of those who vetted and hired him.

Let’s start with the basics of this debacle. Roberts, who entered the United States on a student visa in 1999, overstayed his legal welcome and faced a deportation order issued in May 2024. Despite this, he somehow ascended to a position overseeing 30,000 students, earning a salary of over $300,000 plus perks, all while evading immigration authorities. His arrest came after a dramatic flight from a traffic stop in a district-provided vehicle, raising immediate questions about how a fugitive could operate so brazenly under the nose of a major school system all while leeching off it. The discovery of weapons and cash only deepened the mystery, suggesting a lifestyle far removed from the educational leadership role he purported to embody. Yet, as outrageous as this sounds, it pales in comparison to the revelation that his academic credentials—central to his professional legitimacy—were a complete sham.

The claim of a doctoral degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore has been thoroughly debunked by university officials, who confirmed that Roberts never attended, let alone graduated from, their institution. This isn’t a minor oversight or a misunderstanding; it’s a deliberate fraud that strikes at the heart of educational integrity. A superintendent’s role demands not just administrative skill but a credible academic foundation to guide curriculum, policy, and teacher development. By fabricating this credential, Roberts not only deceived the Des Moines school board but also the parents, students, and taxpayers who trusted him to lead with expertise. Worse still, investigations have revealed that his educational claims extended to other prestigious institutions, including St. John’s University and MIT, none of which have any record of his enrollment. This isn’t just a lie; it’s a house of cards built on a foundation of academic fiction, toppled by the slightest scrutiny.

The blame, however, cannot rest solely with Roberts. The Des Moines school board and the district’s hiring process bear an unforgivable share of responsibility. Two private recruiting firms, paid handsomely to vet candidates, failed spectacularly to uncover Roberts’ illegal status, criminal history—including a prior weapons charge—and fabricated credentials. This is not a case of a single background check slipping through the cracks; it’s a systemic failure that suggests either gross incompetence or willful ignorance. Were these firms pressured to overlook red flags to meet diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals, which reportedly played a role in Roberts’ selection as the first person of color to hold this position? The optics of hiring a black, gay superintendent may have blinded decision-makers to the due diligence that should have been non-negotiable. The result is a district left red-faced, with parents demanding answers and the U.S. Department of Justice now probing potential race-based hiring practices.

This scandal also raises alarming questions about immigration enforcement and voter integrity. Records indicate that Roberts improperly registered to vote as a Democrat in Maryland, casting ballots as recently as April 2025 despite his deportation order. This suggests a broader vulnerability in electoral systems, where undocumented individuals might exploit lax oversight. Coupled with his illegal employment, it paints a picture of a man who gamed multiple systems—educational, professional, and civic—while those tasked with safeguarding them slept at the wheel.

The fallout has been swift but insufficient. Roberts’ education license has been revoked, and he has resigned, but the damage to public trust is irreparable. The school board, particularly its chair, has faced calls for resignation, yet their response has been tepid, citing Roberts’ past effectiveness while sidestepping the catastrophic judgment lapse. Students, astonishingly, staged walkouts in his support, a misguided show of loyalty that ignores the betrayal of their education’s integrity. Meanwhile, the district grapples with legal and financial repercussions, including potential fines for employing an unauthorized worker under federal law.

This fiasco is a wake-up call. It exposes a toxic brew of unchecked DEI priorities, inadequate vetting, and a failure to enforce immigration and academic standards. The Des Moines school district must overhaul its hiring practices, hold accountable the firms and fire board members complicit in this mess. They need to restore credibility through transparency and rigor and accountability. Anything less is a continuation of the negligence that allowed this scandal to fester. Parents, educators, and taxpayers deserve better than a system so easily duped by a well-tailored lie. There must be consequences.