The superintendent arrested by ICE had a consulting gig. His districts repeatedly hired the firm
Since his arrest last month by immigration agents, the public has grappled with how Ian Roberts became a public schools leader despite lacking authorization to work in the U.S., a history of criminal charges and falsified credentials. An Associated Press investigation has found that Roberts rose to the top job in Iowa’s largest district with the help of a consulting firm that marketed his self-published books and helped build his profile. Roberts’ relationship with Lively Paradox and its founder Nicole Price at times blurred the line between his public and private jobs. Des Moines officials blocked his plan to award a contract to Lively Paradox in 2023 after finding a conflict of interest, but Roberts later awarded Price a contract for a two-hour leadership exercise during a board retreat.