Des Moines names ex-Olympian as superintendent — first person of color to lead district

A superintendent of a school district outside Erie, Pennsylvania, will serve as Des Moines Public Schools' next top administrator — the first person of color to lead the diverse district and its more than 30,000 students.

The Des Moines School Board approved a two-year contract with Ian Roberts, the superintendent of Millcreek Township School District, at its regular meeting Tuesday night, ending a monthslong search. He will be paid a base salary of $270,000 annually.

"I am a champion for teachers. I am committed to coaching and developing leaders," Roberts said Tuesday night at a news conference announcing his hiring. "But allow me to reiterate: More importantly, every single child who knocks on our doors, families rest assured, they will receive a quality education that changes their trajectory to success."

Roberts, 52, previously worked in large and mid-sized cities as a chief schools officer, superintendent of secondary schools, principal and senior vice president of a charter management organization. His experience includes working in Baltimore, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.

"Dr. Robert's record of navigating an ever-changing educational environment, including improving under-performing schools, and helping high-performing schools raise the bar, provides our district with the hands-on leadership needed during this critical time," school board chair Teree Caldwell-Johnson said at a Tuesday news conference.

Roberts will take over much larger, more diverse school district

Roberts has been with the Millcreek school district, which covers a suburban area outside the northwest Pennsylvania city, since August 2020. The district has about 6,400 students across 10 buildings, with students of color making up about 20 percent of enrollment, according to Pennsylvania state data.

Related: Roberts to resign as Millcreek schools superintendent June 30

He takes over a school district nearly five times as large, with a significantly more diverse student body. Des Moines Public Schools has about 31,000 students across 64 buildings, with students of color making up roughly two-thirds of enrollment, according to district data.

"We're excited to have a superintendent that looks more like our students, and our hope is that our students will be able to and our staff respond positively, to be able to continue to build those relationships and make things even better here," said Josh Brown, the president of the Des Moines Education Association teachers union.

Roberts graduated with a bachelor of science degree from Coppin State University and received his doctorate in urban educational leadership and a master’s degree in education from St. John’s University, according to the news release. He is also a former Olympic athlete, competing in the 2000 Sydney Games in track and field.

He plans to move to Iowa ahead of his July 1 start date.

"Leadership is about meeting people where they are and helping them to become even better, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead a strong organization like Des Moines Public Schools, using the board’s goals and guardrails to achieve educational and operational excellence," Roberts said in a release.

"I want to thank the board for this opportunity, and I look forward to listening, learning and leading with input from my school community to increase opportunities for all students using empathy, cultural competency and continuous improvement to chart our path."

DMPS conducts superintendent search and selection in secret

Tuesday's vote was the first time the public had a chance to meet Roberts.

The board, gathering input from staff members and the public, chose to select the superintendent for Iowa's largest and most diverse school district behind closed doors, arguing it was necessary to bring in the best pool of candidates.

Education advocates say this practice is becoming more common across the country.

Related: Des Moines School Board to select next superintendent behind closed doors

"When considering candidates, the board was looking for educational experience, academic excellence and a passion for innovation and inspiration, and we found those qualities and more in Dr. Roberts," Caldwell-Johnson said in a news release.

Roberts will replace former Superintendent Tom Ahart, who resigned after 10 years at the end of the 2021-22 school year.

Ahart's final years with the district were mired in controversy in part because of Des Moines school district officials' decision to keep students online for the first two weeks of the 2020-21 school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. State law at the time required school districts to offer a 50% in-person learning option.

The Des Moines School Board has maintained that Ahart was following its instructions.

A complaint was later filed with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and a letter of reprimand was placed in Ahart's file.

Related: Former Des Moines superintendent among 6 finalists to lead Ohio's largest school district

Assistant Superintendent Matt Smith served as interim superintendent following Ahart's departure at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Smith did not apply for the position.

School board members made clear they are ready to work with Roberts on the issues the district is facing.

"Dr. Roberts’ focus on creating equitable experiences for students to thrive, paired with his commitment to continuous improvement, creates an exciting opportunity for our students, staff and community," Caldwell-Johnson said in the release.

Challenges facing new DMPS superintendent

Roberts is stepping into the role at a time when Des Moines Public Schools staff are working to help students recover academically from the pandemic, and students are increasingly facing housing and food insecurity.

In addition, several new Iowa laws and unsigned bills will affect LGBTQ students and staff and could lead to a large-scale review of books at the district's schools.

Senate File 496 requires educators to notify parents and guardians if a student is transgender, and prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation to students through sixth grade.

The bill also requires public school districts to remove books by January 2024 that feature sex acts and makes it easier to challenge books in both school libraries and classrooms.

The bill awaits the governor's signature.

A separate bill, Senate File 482 — which prohibits people from entering a school restroom or changing room that does not align with their sex at birth — was signed into law earlier this spring and went into effect immediately.

Public school officials across the state also face students leaving public school for private school following the passage of Gov. Kim Reynolds' Students First Act. The act allows families to apply for taxpayer funds — which would have gone to public schools — to send their child to an accredited private school.

Related: Students protest LGBTQ, education bills as Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds hands them scholar awards

Additionally, Des Moines district officials have increasingly focused on improving equity and safety throughout the district. This includes ending the use of school resource officers, and a focus on raising math and reading scores for Black male students.

The focus on safety comes after three students were killed in two separate shootings on properties connected to the school district, and a ransomware attack that closed school for two days and forced officials to take the district offline.

Related: Dozens of books are being challenged in Iowa schools. Here's the ones targeted most often:

Samantha Hernandez covers education for the Register. Reach her at (515) 851-0982 or svhernandez@gannett.com.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ian Roberts will follow Tom Ahart as Des Moines schools superintendent