Iowa’s largest school district claims it was handed a candidate with a “likely forged” transcript and an abbreviated background check when it hired a superintendent who is now sitting in federal prison.
On Friday, Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) released an investigative report detailing the 2023 hiring of Ian Roberts. Roberts, a native of Guyana, resigned last month after being indicted by a federal grand jury for falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen and unlawfully possessing firearms.
The report, authored by independent investigator and attorney Melissa Schilling, places the bulk of the blame on JG Consulting, the Texas-based firm paid $35,000 to lead the search.
Missed Red Flags According to the investigation, the school board relied on JG Consulting to thoroughly vet candidates. However, the report alleges the firm provided a background check that only looked back seven years.
Because of this time limit, the district was unaware of Roberts’ 2012 reckless driving conviction in Maryland. Federal authorities have also since revealed a 1996 arrest record in New York involving drug possession and intent to sell, though state laws may have shielded those specific records from standard checks.
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The background check did catch a 2022 weapons charge in Pennsylvania. JG Consulting reportedly described this conviction to the school board as merely a “blemish” on Roberts’ record.
The Question of the PhD The most glaring oversight detailed in the report involves Roberts’ education. The investigation concluded there is high confidence Roberts submitted a forged transcript with his application.
Roberts claimed on his resume to hold a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University. While he attended the program between 2002 and 2007, university officials confirmed he never received the degree.
Schilling’s report notes that the third-party background check actually flagged this discrepancy. However, interviews with school board members suggest JG Consulting never raised the issue with them. Roberts reportedly brought a different resume to his in-person interview that accurately listed his status as “all but dissertation,” creating confusion about what the board knew and when.
The Blame Game The release of the report is likely to fuel the ongoing lawsuit between the school district and the consulting firm.
JG Consulting has aggressively pushed back against the district’s narrative. In court filings, the firm argues that DMPS is attempting to shift the blame for its own “hiring and employment shortcomings.”
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The firm contends that as the actual employer, the school district had the sole legal obligation to verify Roberts’ work authorization and immigration status. While Schilling noted that the district believed the consultants were handling immigration vetting via E-Verify, the firm stated in court documents that it “legally could not” confirm work authorization for a non-hiring entity.
“The District… knew of Roberts’ criminal issues and resume problems but still decided to hire him,” the firm’s filing stated.
Current Status Roberts remains in federal custody. When arrested on Sept. 26, agents found him driving a district-issued vehicle with a firearm wrapped in a towel—one of four guns authorities say he illegally possessed. He is currently awaiting trial scheduled for March.
The school district declined to comment on the cost of Schilling’s investigation.
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