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5 arrested in massive Houston teacher certification cheating scandal
The head basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School was the ringleader, according to DA Kim Ogg.
By Allyson Ackerman, News Editor Oct 28, 2024
At least five people were charged in a massive teacher certification ring that put unqualified teachers in classrooms all across Houston.
According to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, the alleged $1 million scheme involved falsifying credentials to secure teaching positions for individuals who did not meet certification standards.
The scandal is believed to have impacted multiple school districts in the Houston area.
The scheme involved the certification of at least 200 unqualified teachers who are now leading classrooms at public schools. The investigators said the teachers would use a test-taking proxy—a person impersonating the teacher—as well as a fake test administrator to take and pass the tests required for certification.
Ogg said two of those unqualified teachers were identified as "sexual assault predators," who were employed on school campuses.
Michael Levine, Felony Chief of the Harris County DA's Office Public Corruption Division, said the leader of the ring had grossed more than $1 million from the scheme.
The following were charged with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity:
- Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. He is charged as the organizer of the cheating ring. He allegedly charged $2,500 to fake each certification, but some paid more due to a middleman. He worked at the high school for nearly 20 years.
- Tywana Gilford Mason, 51, the former director/VA certifying official at the Houston Training and Education Center. Her role as test proctor allowed her to keep the proxy scheme undetected.
- Nicholas Newton, 35, an assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD, allegedly participated in the scheme as a proxy test-taker.
- Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22, a proctor at TACTIX—an education company that provides testing and proctoring services—is alleged to have taken bribes to allow Newtown to act as a testing proxy.
- LaShonda Roberts, 39, is an assistant principal at Yates High School in Houston ISD. Roberts is charged with recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the cheating scheme.
Ogg said the scheme began around May 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning and was revealed when a former coach came forward with details of the scheme.
HISD Communications Chief Alexandra Elizondo said the district became aware of the allegations shortly before the arrests and placed the three employees on paid leave Monday. District leaders are “still learning information” related to the case, Elizondo said and will have more information in the days and weeks to come. HISD did not provide the number of teachers who were given false certifications but said any teacher who did would be terminated.
In a statement Monday, Texas Education Agency spokesperson Jake Kobersky wrote that the department “will review any and all information shared by law enforcement and pursue appropriate action against any educator involved in this scheme.” The State Board of Educator Certification will decide on any punishment, Kobersky said.
