Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts has resigned from his position effective immediately, lawyers representing him said on September 30. Roberts, who was detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement Friday, had been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Des Moines School Board on September 29 after the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his license. In April 2025, a Texas immigration judge had decided not to reopen Roberts’ case in absentia. He was very well-engaged in all our discussions this morning, for about the last two hours.”DISTRICT’S HIRING PROCEDURES QUESTIONEDSome of the questions surrounding the case are focused on the Des Moines school district’s vetting process for hiring Roberts. Laura Zorc, chair of the National School Board Coalition, said Roberts’ hiring process “reveals a critical oversight” in schools boards hiring search firms to fill school administration positions.