Norris came under fire last month when it was learned that the Des Moines School Superintendent, Ian Roberts, had been living in the country illegally for years.
Since his arrest last month by immigration agents, the public has grappled with how Roberts became a longtime superintendent despite lacking authorization to work in the U.S., having a history of criminal charges and touting falsified credentials.
Des Moines Public Schools hired Ian Roberts in 2023 to lead its district of about 30,000 students over two years ago, but federal authorities said the Guyana native was in the U.S. illegally and has not had work authorization for several years. Officials also revealed a list of criminal charges in Roberts’ record, including drug possession and intent to sell in 1996 and weapons charges in 2020 and 2022.
Roberts pleaded guilty to the 2022 weapons charge — a minor infraction for unlawfully possessing a loaded hunting rifle in a vehicle — and the district was aware of that early on. Federal officials did not specify the outcome of the 1996 or 2020 charges.
In making her announcement to quit the Senate race, Norris said the arrest of Roberts demanded her focus as chair of the board overseeing Iowa’s largest school district.
Roberts is a former chief of staff for former first lady Michelle Obama who launched her campaign in August emphasizing her service on the Des Moines school board and past as a classroom teacher.
She was thrust into the spotlight as the public tried to understand how the board could have hired Roberts in 2023, when authorities said the native of Guyana was living and working illegally in the U.S. Days after the arrest, Norris faced criticism for posting a video ahead of a quarterly Sept. 30 fundraising deadline seeking donations.
