Freedom Fighters,
Yesterday, DMPS School Board Chair, Teree Caldwell-Johnson announced the school board's selection of Dr. Ian Roberts as the next superintendent.
Caldwell-Johnson says in an email to DMPS stakeholders: "Dr. Roberts was chosen through a comprehensive national search based on the leadership profile prepared by the Board after receiving input from staff, parents, students, and community members.
Dr. Roberts, 52, currently serves as Superintendent of Millcreek Township School District located in northwest Pennsylvania, and he is a lifelong educator who has held the additional roles of Chief Schools Officer, Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Principal, and Senior Vice President of a charter management organization where he led 18 public schools in four states. He has experience leading schools in several large and mid-sized cities, including Washington D.C., Baltimore and St. Louis.
Dr. Roberts is a proven champion for creating equitable opportunities for all students and is dedicated to ensuring that focus is a central part of his work in Des Moines. He has a varied and impressive background that ranges from being named George Washington University’s 2013 Washington D.C. Principal of the Year to competing in the 2000 Olympics as a track & field athlete. Dr. Roberts graduated with a B.S. degree from Coppin State University and received his Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership and a master’s degree in education from St. John’s University. He also has received several education-related certificates, including the Harvard University Improving Schools: The Art of Leadership certificate. But most importantly, he is a passionate, innovative, and inspiring leader who is committed to helping our community thrive."
The Des Moines Branch is excited to see an HBCU Alum selected for this position and looks forward to learning more about Dr. Roberts in the coming months.
Black and Thriving!
Victoria H. Weber
President
NAACP Des Moines Branch