The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners has revoked the administrator license of embattled Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, who has being held on a deportation order.
“Our office has received information that you no longer possess legal presence in the United States, therefore you (are) not able to hold a license issued by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners,” a letter from BOEE Executive Director Micheal Cavin to Roberts dated Sept. 28 states. “… The license issued by the Board of Educational Examiners is no longer valid and your authority to serve as superintendent is revoked.”
The Iowa Department of Education sent out a one sentence news release about the change the morning of Sept. 29.
Related: Who conducted the background check on Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts? What we know.
Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts speaks during a ribbon cutting for a new outdoor basketball court at McCombs Middle School with the Caitlin Clark foundation on July 28, 2025, in Des Moines. Clark’s foundation also gave away free back-to-school supplies to 500 students.
The Sept. 28 revocation by the Board of Educational Examiners follows Roberts’, a long-time educator, Sept. 26 arrest by U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement for allegedly being in the United States illegally. Officials state that he received a court-issued “final order of removal” in May 2024 in relation to an earlier court case.
The revocation came one day after the Des Moines School Board placed Roberts on paid administrative leave.
Before joining DMPS, Roberts underwent several background checks, including one by the state’s board of education examiners.
Community members gather to condemn the arrest of DMPS Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts on Friday during a protest at the Federal Building on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Des Moines.
Roberts was licensed by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners in July 2023. Before Sunday’s revocation, Roberts’ professional administrator license was set to expire Dec. 31, 2028.
Roberts has until Oct. 28 to appeal the decision, according to Cavin’s letter.
Related: DMPS superintendent Ian Roberts may face long shot bid to stay in US, but much is unclear
Officials have indicated Roberts has been detained at Woodbury County Jail. Since his arrest, calls for his release have grown but so have questions about how he was able to pass background checks and questions about his academic achievements.
Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @svhernandez, Bluesky at @svhernandez.bsky.social or at facebook.com/svhernandezreporter.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts’ Iowa administrator license revoked
