Brace yourselves, folks—Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines Public School Board, has just dropped her bid for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat.
The New York Post reported that her withdrawal on Thursday follows intense criticism over her push for “radical empathy” toward a former superintendent with a deeply troubling background.
Norris, a Democrat and ex-chief of staff to Michelle Obama, stumbled into controversy by defending Ian Andre Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools.
Roberts, hired by DMPS in July 2023, turned out to be an unauthorized migrant with a lengthy criminal record. Federal officials reported he illegally re-entered the U.S. from Guyana in 1999 after arrests tied to theft and drugs.
His history only gets worse. A 2012 Maryland conviction for reckless driving and speeding, plus 2020 weapon possession charges, raise serious questions about his fitness for a school leadership role.
Despite overstaying visas and facing deportation orders in 2004 and 2024, Roberts somehow maintained active voter status as a registered Democrat in Maryland. How did this slip past the hiring process?
On September 26, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Roberts after a brief car chase. A gun, hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash were allegedly found in his vehicle, leading to charges of firearm possession by an unauthorized migrant.
Just days later, on September 30, Roberts resigned, leaving DMPS in chaos. The school board admitted they knew he falsely claimed to have graduated from Morgan State University when hired.
Whether they knew of his immigration status or criminal past remains unclear, but this oversight is a glaring failure of responsibility. No amount of progressive spin can excuse such a lapse.
Norris’ call for “radical empathy” toward Roberts didn’t land well with those who prioritize accountability over feelings. In an era of overly sentimental policies, this approach feels dangerously out of touch with the need for trust in public schools.
Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, didn’t hold back, demanding Norris exit both the Senate race and the school board. Hinson sharply noted Norris “can’t even run the bare minimum of hiring standards at the Des Moines Public Schools.” That’s a stinging critique of leadership that’s hard to ignore.
Norris countered by claiming she faced “vicious and coordinated attacks” that distracted from her mission. “Those realities took time and oxygen away from the work I set out to do: stand up for our kids and families — and the backbone of our communities, their educators and caregivers,” she wrote. Fine words, but they ring hollow when your decisions contribute to a crisis.
In her exit statement, Norris insisted the board is now prioritizing accountability with “grace, transparency, and resolve.” If “grace” means overlooking a superintendent’s rap sheet, perhaps it’s time for a new dictionary in boardroom meetings.
With the Senate race behind her, Norris plans to guide the board through this transition, support the Reimagining Education bond, and aid ongoing investigations. One hopes those investigations reveal how such a flawed hiring process was ever greenlit.
This debacle isn’t just about one leader or one superintendent—it’s a stark reminder of what happens when ideology trumps responsibility. Des Moines families deserve school officials who put safety and integrity first, not buzzwords over basics.
