Hinson says accountability in breakdown needs to be found in Des Moines schools superintendent hiring

MARION — North-central Iowa congresswoman Ashley Hinson says there needs to be responsibility shown in why the hiring of Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts wasn’t red flagged by the district’s school board.

Roberts was licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in July 2023 after he underwent several background checks, including one by the state educational examiners board. Roberts was arrested on Friday by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly being in the US illegally, as officials stated that he received a court-issued “final order of removal” in May 2024 in relation to an earlier court case.

During a conference call with reporters this morning, Hinson says there needs to be accountability in finding where the breakdown happened.  “If we need to look at the process for notifying employers, I think that is something that is a valid question. Certainly I want to make sure that these school districts are looking at who they are employing right now, and if there are any employees at these school districts who do not have proper authorization, I would encourage the school districts and school boards to take quick and swift action. In this case, it’s very clear that the Des Moines Public Schools leadership has failed its parents and its students. They’re calling for radical empathy, I’m calling for radical accountability here.”

Hinson says people should feel upset and violated after learning the circumstances behind Roberts’ arrest. “Because they’ve learned, in this case especially, that a con man was in a position of trust, and he knew he did not have work authorization, yet continued to masquerade in this position of authority. Again, I want to say I’m grateful to our ICE agents and the local law enforcement who are ensuring that dangerous illegal immigrants aren’t in our streets or in positions around our kids. Again, they are on the front lines of protecting our communities every single day.”

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has issued a letter revoking Roberts’ authority to serve as the Des Moines Public Schools superintendent because state officials received information that Roberts “no longer possesses legal presence in the United States”.