The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools resigned this week after federal immigration officers arrested him on Sept. 26 for working illegally in the United States and evading a deportation order.

Ian Andre Roberts, 51, originally from Guyana, had been earning a $287,000 annual base salary leading Iowa’s largest school district before his arrest.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Roberts attempted to flee and was discovered hiding in brush.

Officers reported finding a fixed-blade hunting knife, a loaded Glock 19 firearm, and $3,000 in cash in the school-owned vehicle he was driving.

Roberts’ employment authorization expired in 2020, yet he continued working in top education positions around the country.

DHS records show he had previously been ordered deported during the Biden-Harris administration.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Roberts built his career on a résumé that, records now indicate, contained numerous fabrications.

The Des Moines Public Schools website listed him as an MBA graduate of MIT’s Sloan School of Management. However, an MIT spokesperson told reporters they had no record of his attendance.

Roberts also claimed to have studied at Harvard and Georgetown, but those affiliations have not been verified.

For years, he said he had earned a doctorate from Morgan State University in Baltimore. Morgan State confirmed he never obtained a degree there.

Roberts’ past included superintendent roles across the country, including Millcreek Township schools near Erie, Pennsylvania, where he worked from 2020 to 2023

. During his tenure, the district faced multiple lawsuits and ultimately paid more than $400,000 in settlements related to sex discrimination claims.

Former colleagues described him as a controversial figure who was more focused on appearances than responsibilities.

In Millcreek, court records show Roberts was named in a settlement involving former HR chief Melody Ellington, who resigned in 2022 after one year on the job and threatened to sue for “constructive discharge.”

The district agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve the matter. Ellington, who had previously worked in St. Louis during Roberts’ tenure as superintendent there, did not return calls for comment.

Sources in Pennsylvania told local media that Roberts was the subject of rumors involving inappropriate relationships with coworkers.

The Post reported unverified claims that he was caught having sex with a colleague on school property.

Former colleagues also said Roberts was hired in part because of his Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion credentials, though many described him as deceptive and ineffective. Some claimed he misrepresented personal details, including the number of children he had.

Past Employment and Public Profile
Before his time in Pennsylvania and Iowa, Roberts served as Chief Schools Officer for Aspire Public Schools in Oakland, California, and as superintendent in St. Louis, Missouri.

Earlier, he worked as a principal in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Records also show he taught in New York City as a substitute teacher from 2000 to 2001.

Roberts is also an accomplished athlete, having competed for Guyana in the men’s 800 meters at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

He studied at Coppin State University in Baltimore, graduating in 1998, and later received a master’s degree from St. John’s University in Queens.

Alongside the revelations about his credentials and immigration status, Roberts was found to have an active Democrat voter registration in Maryland.

Congressional Republicans have since demanded answers from the Maryland State Board of Elections about how a noncitizen was able to remain on the voter rolls, citing concerns about election integrity.

By now, I am sure you have heard about Ian Andre Roberts, the Superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools in Iowa. He was arrested last week on a standing deportation order. He was registered to vote despite not being a citizen and had previously worked as a Baltimore City School… pic.twitter.com/HGiT87Tabf

— Matt Morgan (@MattMorgan29A) October 1, 2025

In a statement, Des Moines Public Schools said Roberts’ employment had been properly vetted, including an FBI background check, and that all required paperwork was submitted at the time of his hire.

“The School District received all required clearances, including an FBI background check, prior to Roberts serving as Superintendent. No disqualifying events were identified,” the district said.

Roberts’ resignation was formally accepted Wednesday as ICE continues his detention. Legal proceedings related to his removal from the country are ongoing.

What once looked like a career spanning coast-to-coast leadership roles in education has now collapsed under the weight of fabricated credentials, lawsuits, and a pending deportation order.