A beacon of hope in uncertain times

My first encounter with Dr. Ian Andre Roberts was at a welcome dinner in the fall of 2023. In a room full of educators, policymakers, and attorneys dressed in finery and sneakers the energy was invigorating; the pride was palpable. My daughter was starstruck when she met him, yet he got on her level and with the warmest smile asked her what mattered to her.

Community surrounded Dr. Roberts that night because they knew what he represented to our children. The support he showed to staff and students was unwavering and consistent over the past couple of years. His kindness and Herculean effort never wavered from day one until the day of his detention. Perhaps that is why public outcry had been so strong.

For the man who ran the biggest school district in Iowa, no problem was too small and no issue was beneath him.

On top of his superintendent duties, he made it a point to be visible to students, families, staff and community. He popped up frequently at schools, engaging with awe struck kids. Whether students were in preschool or high school, they could relate to the Olympian athlete and scholar. He participated in DMPS events such as the fun run and was a regular face at community events. The communication parents received was unprecedented and ranged from YouTube videos and newsletters to monthly Superintendent Coffee Chats where concerned parents could sit down over breakfast and be heard by the most powerful man in the district.

But it was the other details that showed how much he cared. While the DMPS board had many important goals, Dr. Roberts recognized that students couldn’t learn if they “were not in seats.” In addition to district initiatives providing resources and incentivizing classrooms to increase attendance, he made home visits to those struggling with chronic absenteeism. One moment that sticks with me is him describing how he gave up wearing his immaculate suits on these visits and switched to wearing a t-shirt. He didn’t want families to feel intimidated when he knocked on their door. He was known to personally reach out to staff to express appreciation. He was a kind neighbor who always offered a wave and friendly smile.

Scores of people have zealously jumped into the tedious “fact-finding” hunt, and come up with a list of charges and insinuations that his multiple educational achievements are fabricated. But what stands out is the passionate desire to destroy a man’s reputation and legacy, and proof positive that our immigration system is way too complex to navigate.

No one is perfect, and maybe some of the details of what was achieved where and when were confusing. But Dr. Roberts’ ability to make change stands on its own. And more importantly, the way he made students feel was unparalleled.

It is clear that he had to work at least twice as hard to get half as much grace as those less worthy have received. As of this writing there are two convictions — one reckless driving — a common offense, and the second, that resulted in a $100. And that was a decision Roberts made to make a white man feel more at ease.

There were no consecutive DUIs. No sexually explicit emails sent with district equipment. No sexual harassment charges. Notably, two of these three examples are still in office or were allowed to remain in office for not meeting the “willful misconduct or maladministration in office” Iowa Code threshold. No one was hurt or threatened. DHS Secretary Noem considers two convictions that led to no injuries and a record of composed primarily of technicalities due to a flawed immigration system an “extensive criminal record.” The man who wanted to improve the largest school district in Iowa has earned a suggestion from Noem that he was one of “the worst of the worst” and that needed to be arrested to” put the safety of America’s children FIRST.”

Dr. Robert’ hard work still speaks for itself. He was arguably the most impactful superintendent in DMPS history. And he achieved this impact despite debilitating funding cuts to public schools and multiple pieces of legislation that curbed teachers’ ability to teach the truth and provide a safe space for all students.

The safety rhetoric has been too on the nose. Many of us are insulted, knowing that Dr. Roberts has never been a threat to our kids, nor to our district. He has been quite the opposite. Dr. Roberts was the one able to calm Roosevelt families and recover commencement proceedings when gunshots were fired outside Knapp Center during the 2024 graduation.

People have described Dr. Roberts as flashy, a fraud, and dangerous. The families that received his personal support, mine included, have had the luxury to see beyond micro-aggressive journalistic framing that compounds institutional and overt racism men like him experience. Instead we had the opportunity to see his compassion and his consistent dedication.

Black men on a daily basis are subject to over policing and disproportionate use of force. Federal entities take further steps to discredit and destroy reputation of leaders who push for necessary change in this country. After having watched lawsuits, cries of victimhood, and public shaming and distancing over the past couple of weeks, it cannot be stressed enough that this country and this state have doubled down on the discrimination and dehumanization of Black men. It is no wonder we outlawed the teaching of this shameful history when we don’t want to learn its lessons.

Anti-immigrant sentiments are the norm now, and apparently the First Amendment is a one-way street with limited access. Given the narrative and framing of “information,” a greater understanding of institutional barriers and state sanctioned violence in this country would be beneficial to those spreading rumors and fueling hateful rhetoric.

What is the equal troubling to the overt racism in this case is the silence and political risk mitigation of those who once flocked to Dr. Roberts’ side, Democrats and Republicans alike. The tireless hours that Dr. Roberts put into our community to make Des Moines schools a better place to belong have barely been acknowledged by many who once clamored over photo ops with the unicorn superintendent.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr wrote from Birmingham jail that he was “gravely disappointed with the white moderate who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice."

For those allowing Dr. Roberts’ impact to be swept under the rug while clutching their pearls and quietly ceding their support, they show that they prefer comfort over justice.

And now over 30,000 families are affected by the actions of a specific few people that were involved in Dr. Roberts’ removal. A district whose students are 69% non-white have not been represented in staff ranks since inception and now is less likely to see representation anytime in the near future.

Dr. Roberts gave us something to believe in. More than anything, he wanted our kids to believe in themselves and know that they belonged. His legacy will not be forgotten, at least by those who have paid close attention to U.S. history.

Chris Espersen is a Gazette editorial fellow. chris.espersen@thegazette.com