Des Moines School Board Chairwoman Jackie Norris is dropping her Senate bid in Iowa to focus on her job after it was revealed that a former superintendent of the district lived in the United States illegally.
Ian Roberts ran the state’s largest school district before Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him after a car chase. It was discovered that Roberts had a criminal record that spanned decades, and his hiring drew considerable criticism due to the board’s alleged insufficient vetting of him.
Norris noted the recent “superintendent crisis” needed her full attention and put herself, the community, and the school board “in the crosshairs of vicious and coordinated attacks.”
HOW AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT LANDED AN IOWA SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT JOB
“Those realities took time and oxygen away from the work I set out to do: stand up for our kids and families — and the backbone of our communities, their educators and caregivers,” Norris said in a statement.
The former Senate candidate said she needed to focus “on the work at hand,” which included leading the board through the transition, supporting the passage of the $265 million Reimagine Education bond, and “fully participating” in the investigations “to get the answers our community deserves.”
“Thank you to all of my supporters and friends who have been steadfast in their support,” Norris said. “I will continue to serve our community and do everything I can to better the lives of children and their families.”
Norris had been one of several Democrats scrambling to flip Iowa’s Senate seat blue after Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) decided not to run for reelection. Democrats running include state Sen. Zach Wahls, state Rep. Josh Turek, and military veteran Nathan Sage.
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) is the top Republican running and drew President Donald Trump’s endorsement last month. She previously called for Norris’s resignation. Republicans are expected to hold on to the seat.
ICE arrested the former superintendent, Roberts, on Sept. 26, and he resigned from his position on Sept. 30. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement officers allegedly found him with a gun, knife, and $3,000 in cash.
Roberts is originally from Guyana and illegally returned to the U.S. in 1999 after a theft and drug arrest. He has also racked up other criminal charges since then. In 2012, he was convicted of reckless driving, unsafe operation, and speeding in Maryland.
Then in 2020, he was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree weapon charges. In 2022, Roberts was hit with a weapons-related charge in Pennsylvania.
ICE charged Roberts with being an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm.
DES MOINES SCHOOL BOARD SUES FIRM FOR ‘FAILING TO PROPERLY VET’ DETAINED SUPERINTENDENT
It is also alleged that Roberts forged his doctorate from Morgan State University, and the school board knew of this fact and decided to hire him anyway.
It is unclear if the board members knew about his immigration status and his criminal record before hiring him.
