MIT and George Washington dispute Ian Roberts’ claims about academic credentials, honors

DES MOINES — More universities have denied claims from Des Moines Public Schools’ former superintendent about his education and accomplishments, raising questions about how thoroughly Iowa’s largest school district vetted his application.

For years, former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts, 54, had claimed he completed programs and was honored at several universities, including Morgan State University and MIT’s Sloan School of Management. Roberts had long stated that he received a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University in July 2007.

Morgan State confirmed to the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Sept. 30 that Roberts did not obtain a degree from the school, despite attending from the fall of 2002 through the spring of 2007. An MIT spokesperson later told the Register that the school does not have records of Roberts attending.

In addition, Des Moines Public Schools officials wrote in a 2023 news release announcing Roberts’ hire that he had previously been honored by the George Washington University as its District of Columbia “Principal of the Year.” But a George Washington spokesperson told the Register on Sept. 30 that the “university has no record of awarding such recognition to DC principals, and did not present this award.”

The revelation about his academic credentials and honors comes days after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America, amid allegations that he did not have legal authorization to live or work in the United States.

Federal agents arrested him on Sept. 26 after an immigration judge ordered his removal in May 2024, a year after the Des Moines School Board hired Roberts. His educational and athletic credentials made him an inspirational figure in Iowa’s largest school district.

Roberts resigned from his position this week after being placed on unpaid leave and having his administrator’s license revoked by state officials.

School district ‘took him at his word about things like honors and awards’

On his LinkedIn page, Roberts wrote that he was an “Incoming MBA Candidate at MIT Sloan School of Management” from 2019 to 2021. In a November 2024 article about Roberts, a Des Moines Public Schools official wrote that the superintendent “completed … an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Management.”

But MIT spokesperson Sarah McDonnell said in an email that the school’s “Registrar’s Office has no record of enrollment for a person with the name Ian Andre Roberts.”

Des Moines Public Schools officials credited Roberts with an MIT education after reading that information in a news release from Coppin State University, where Roberts ran track and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1998, said district spokesperson Phil Roeder. Coppin State inducted Roberts into its athletics hall of fame in 2024.

“Roberts was aware of their announcement about the hall of fame, of course, as well as what we shared on our blog post,” Roeder said in an email.

In his resume submitted to the Des Moines School Board in 2023, Roberts listed the “Principal of the Year” honor. Roeder said Roberts asked district officials to mention the award in a news release announcing his hire.

“At that point, (we) took him at his word about things like honors and awards,” Roeder said.

The school board hired JG Consulting to lead the search for a superintendent, which resulted in Roberts’ hire in 2023. In a statement this week, JG Consulting CEO James Guerra wrote that another company, Baker-Eubanks, conducted a “comprehensive background review” of Roberts before the Des Moines School Board hired him.

“All required employment procedures were completed by DMPS prior to his appointment,” Guerra wrote. “As always, the authority to hire and oversee the Superintendent rests solely with the school board.”

Roeder said that the district’s background check did not include a review of the awards that Roberts claimed. The district reviewed criminal records, civil court proceedings, credit reports, sex offender registries, driving records, and academic credentials. Roberts did not include an MBA from MIT on the resume he gave the board.

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School district officials ask for ‘comprehensive immigration and education history’

During a meeting on Sept. 29, Des Moines School Board chair Jackie Norris said district officials asked Roberts’ attorney, Alfredo Parrish, to provide “a comprehensive immigration and education history.” District officials previously stated that Roberts supplied immigration paperwork showing he was authorized to work in the United States before his hire in May 2023.

According to an ICE spokesperson, an immigration judge revoked Roberts’ work authorization in May 2024. The judge’s decision followed a gun charge against Roberts from February 2020.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which filed the charge against Roberts, said a judge sealed records in that case.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission also filed a gun citation against Roberts in November 2021, when a game warden found a rifle with four rounds in a magazine in the back seat of the superintendent’s vehicle. Roberts had just finished hunting, but putting a loaded gun inside a vehicle is illegal under Pennsylvania state law.

Roberts pleaded guilty and paid a fine a month later.

Lawyer says former superintendent believed he had work authorization

Despite the judge’s removal order, Roberts continued to serve as the Des Moines Public Schools superintendent for 16 months. ICE agents arrested him on Sept. 26, and he is currently incarcerated at the Woodbury County Jail in northwest Iowa, awaiting court hearings.

Des Moines Public Schools officials have said they did not know Roberts was not authorized to work in the United States before his arrest.

Parrish said during a Sept. 30 news conference that the superintendent believed he was allowed to continue working after receiving a letter from his immigration attorney in March. In the letter, the immigration attorney wrote, “I am pleased to report that your case has reached a successful resolution.”

But the Des Moines School Board voted to accept Roberts’ letter of resignation on the night of Sept. 30. “It is a sad and troubling end for an individual who gave many people, especially our students, hope,” Norris said.

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Former superintendent might have a doctoral degree from an online college

Roberts may have a doctoral degree from Trident International University, an online, for-profit college. According to a paper available online, Roberts presented his thesis to Trident faculty in 2021.

At the time, Roberts was serving as superintendent of the Milcreek Township School District in Erie, Pennsylvania. Before his hire in the summer of 2020, according to meeting minutes, Milcreek district officials said his hire was delayed because he had not presented the Pennsylvania Department of Education with proof of his academic credentials.

A Trident spokesperson has not returned emails seeking confirmation that Roberts received a doctoral degree from the school. Neither have spokespeople from Harvard University and Georgetown University, two other schools where Roberts has said he studied in some capacity.

Parrish said on Sept. 30 that Roberts does have a doctoral degree from Trident. He also addressed the apparent inconsistencies in Roberts’ resume.

“I don’t know how many of you folks apply for different jobs,” Parrish said. “Your resume can get all screwed up out online and with social media.”

Contributing: Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Former Des Moines superintendent did not attend MIT: Spokesperson