Houston, Texas – On Monday, officials in Houston made an announcement regarding charges brought against five individuals believed to be involved in a teacher certification cheating scandal worth millions of dollars.
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- Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD, is accused of organizing the cheating scheme.
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- Tywana Gilford Mason, 51, the former director/VA certifying official at the Houston Training and Education Center, was a test proctor, which official said allowed her to keep the proxy scheme undetected.
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- Nicholas Newton, 35, an assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School, allegedly participated in the scheme as the proxy test-taker.
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- Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22, a proctor at TACTIX, is alleged to have taken bribes to allow Newton to act as a testing proxy.
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- LaShonda Roberts, 39, an assistant principal at Yates High School in HISD, is accused of recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the cheating scheme.
Officials have stated that all of them are facing two charges of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Investigators believe that around 400 tests may have been taken and that at least 200 teachers have been falsely certified.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed during a press conference on Monday that the origins of this scheme can be traced back to May 2020. She stated, “We know that the co-defendants collectively made a profit of at least $1 million.”
If you have any information regarding these certifications, the DA’s office strongly encourages you to reach out to your local police or contact Crime Stoppers.
Houston-Area School Districts Hit by Alleged Cheating Scandal Resulting in Charges Against Illegally Certified Teachers
In a shocking revelation, authorities have unveiled charges in an alleged cheating scandal that has had a detrimental impact on Houston-area school districts. The scandal has brought to light the presence of illegally certified teachers working within these educational institutions.