Iowa School District Sues vetting Firm Overโ Misleading Superintendent Hire
an Iowa โschool district is suing the consulting firm itโ hired to vet superintendent Ian Roberts,alleging theโข company failed to disclose critical facts aboutโข his background,including discrepancies regarding his educational credentials and a prior immigration issue. The lawsuit, filed by the Waterloo Community School District, centersโ on theโฃ hiring of Roberts, who recently resigned amid scrutiny over his past.
According to โthe lawsuit and reporting โคby the Associated Press,Roberts signed a form attesting to U.S.โ citizenship upon being hired, providing a Social Security card and driver’s license as verification. However, it โwas laterโข revealed that Immigration and โฃCustoms Enforcement (ICE) had issued an order of โremoval against Roberts in 2024. Roberts’ โattorney, O Parrish, stated โคRoberts believed a prior attorney had โฃ”resolved successfully” his immigration case.
The district claims JGโค Consulting, responsible for recruitment and โbackground checks, did not flagโ this information. District officials also stated they were unaware of the 2024 โremovalโค order.
Further, the district alleges JG Consulting failed to adequately address a discrepancy in Roberts’ resume. Roberts falselyโข claimed to have โearned a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University in 2007, a claim the university confirmed was untrue. While a background check flagged this issue, the district assertsโฃ the full school board โwasโ not properly informed โขby the consulting firm.
“This is about accountability,” saeid district spokesperson โขTara Norris. The contract between the district and JGโ Consulting stipulated the company โคwas responsible for complete reference checks andโ presenting qualified candidates.
the lawsuit also details a โฃ2020 weapons charge in Pennsylvania, were Roberts pleaded guilty to a minor infraction forโ unlawfully possessing a โloaded firearm inโ a vehicle, paying a $100 fine. Theโ district stated it was aware of and addressed this charge early in the hiring process.
The Waterloo Community School districtโฃ serves approximately 30,000โฃ students and โขemploys nearly 5,000 staff. Roberts, whoโ has two decades of experience in education, earned a doctorate from Trident University International in 2021 but had used the “doctorate” title prior to completingโ the โdegree.