This is a developing story and will be updated.
The superintendent of the largest school district in Iowa has been detained by federal immigration officials. Superintendent Ian Roberts of Des Moines Public Schools was detained Friday morning by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a message to the district from DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris.
Norris said the district has not confirmed why Roberts was detained or what "next potential steps" will be.
According to a listing of detainees on the ICE website, Roberts is being held in Pottawattamie County Jail in Council Bluffs, although a jail employee said Roberts is not located there. The website lists his country of birth as Guyana.
Roberts was named superintendent in 2023. A district profile states he was born to immigrant parents from Guyana and grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
Per board protocol, DMPS Associate Superintendent Matt Smith will serve as interim superintendent until further notice. Norris said the district will share more updates as they confirm more information.
The following email was sent to the district shortly after 12:20 p.m.
"On behalf of the Board of the Des Moines Public Schools, I wish to share information of immediate importance to the DMPS community.
Pursuant to the Board-approved DMPS leadership succession plan, Matt Smith, Associate Superintendent, will immediately step into the role of Interim Superintendent until further notice. This action follows Dr. Ian Roberts being detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents this morning. We have no confirmed information as to why Dr. Roberts is being detained or the next potential steps.
Our priority is to provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees. The appointment of Mr. Smith as Interim Superintendent ensures that our District continues to operate at the highest level.
Mr. Smith previously served DMPS as Interim Superintendent during the 2022-2023 school year. The Board has the highest confidence in Mr. Smith’s leadership at this time. We know you have many questions, and we will provide updates as we learn more confirmed information. We thank you and appreciate your support."
The email was signed by Jackie Norris, DMPS board president.
Who is Ian Roberts?
Roberts was hired as the superintendent of DMPS in July 2023. When he arrived, he faced a slew of challenges. The district was divided over the actions taken by the previous superintendent, Thomas Ahart, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, DMPS kept students and staff out of buildings longer than most other Iowa school districts during the pandemic.
Roberts oversaw the completion of the district’s 4,000-seat Mediacom Stadium, which was a collaboration with Drake University. All five of the district’s high schools compete there. Roberts also expanded the district’s Montessori preschools beyond Cowles Elementary School in Windsor Heights.
He has been leading the Reimagining Education campaign, a five-year plan that “outlines major changes and improvements designed to strengthen student outcomes” in the district.
In terms of district challenges, Roberts has been tasked with managing an ever-tightening budget, which includes closing several school buildings. Another one of his goals is to raise algebra proficiency rates among Black males.
Before coming to DMPS, Roberts was a track and field athlete who competed for Guyana in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Roberts is known to challenge DMPS students to footraces, often dressed in his signature suits with matching pocket squares. He frequently tells reporters that he enjoys reading, writing, running and hunting—especially Iowa’s deer.
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Katarina Sostaric contributed to this story.
