The national search firm sued for its role in the hiring of ex-Superintendent Ian Roberts, now convicted of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, is countersuing Des Moines Public Schools, accusing the district of defamation.
The district in 2022 hired Texas-based JG Consulting to lead the superintendent search that ultimately resulted in Roberts’ hiring. JG describes itself as a “well-respected and sought-after consulting firm” for finding and developing education leaders,
Although Roberts told the district he was a U.S. citizen, in September 2025 he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The federal agency said he in fact lacked authorization to live or work in the U.S. and had a pending deportation order to his native Guyana…