DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After just three months in charge, Des Moines public schools Superintendent Ian Roberts sought emergency board approval for $116,000 in contracts meant to support 'culturally responsive coaching.' However, investigations revealed that one of the contracts was with Lively Paradox, a firm that not only marketed Roberts but also profited from his previous works.
The district's procurement manager flagged the potential conflict, leading Roberts to cancel a requested board meeting when he learned of the risks. This scandal escalated after Roberts's arrest last month by immigration agents, putting into question his legitimate authorization to work in the U.S., as well as uncovering a troubling past including criminal charges and false qualifications in his resume.
As Roberts gained notoriety throughout various leadership roles in education, his close ties with Lively Paradox brought substantial financial benefits to the firm, which conducted workshops and training in several school districts where Roberts had previously worked.
Following his suspension, the Des Moines district still made minor payments to Lively Paradox for previous services, which Roberts had authorized without board oversight despite warnings about conflicts of interest.
In a surprising twist, Roberts's partnerships with Price, the founder of Lively Paradox, endured even as he remains in federal custody. She continues to promote his message and influence on education through ongoing projects, even after the repercussions of his controversial past surfaced.
The board chair has stated the need for comprehensive reviews of expenditures related to Roberts's contracts, suggesting that serious scrutiny is now warranted as the community seeks to understand how such a situation escalated under its oversight.
The district's procurement manager flagged the potential conflict, leading Roberts to cancel a requested board meeting when he learned of the risks. This scandal escalated after Roberts's arrest last month by immigration agents, putting into question his legitimate authorization to work in the U.S., as well as uncovering a troubling past including criminal charges and false qualifications in his resume.
As Roberts gained notoriety throughout various leadership roles in education, his close ties with Lively Paradox brought substantial financial benefits to the firm, which conducted workshops and training in several school districts where Roberts had previously worked.
Following his suspension, the Des Moines district still made minor payments to Lively Paradox for previous services, which Roberts had authorized without board oversight despite warnings about conflicts of interest.
In a surprising twist, Roberts's partnerships with Price, the founder of Lively Paradox, endured even as he remains in federal custody. She continues to promote his message and influence on education through ongoing projects, even after the repercussions of his controversial past surfaced.
The board chair has stated the need for comprehensive reviews of expenditures related to Roberts's contracts, suggesting that serious scrutiny is now warranted as the community seeks to understand how such a situation escalated under its oversight.
