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5 charged in alleged teacher certification scheme
FOX 26 Reporter Abigail Dye has the latest after hearing from the Harris County District Attorney's Office, along with the Houston Independent School District.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - In a shocking announcement on Monday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed felony charges against five individuals accused of orchestrating an illegal cheating scheme that could have granted unearned certifications to as many as 400 teachers across Texas.
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FULL VIDEO: Harris County D.A. announces criminal charges against teacher certification cheating ring
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced on Monday that five people were charged in connection with a teacher certification cheating ring.
According to Mike Levine, a chief in the DA Office’s Public Corruption Division, the ringleader of the operation is believed to have grossed over $1 million through this elaborate scheme.
Photo of Vincent Grayson speaking to FOX 26 in 2023.
Those charged:
- Vincent Grayson, 57: Head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Grayson is charged as the organizer of the cheating operation.
- Tywana Gilford Mason, 51: Former director and VA certifying official at the Houston Training and Education Center. Mason allegedly used her position as a test proctor to keep the proxy scheme hidden.
- Nicholas Newton, 35: Assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School. Newton is accused of participating in the scheme by acting as a proxy test-taker.
- Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22: A proctor at TACTIX who allegedly accepted bribes to enable Newton's actions as a testing proxy.
- LaShonda Roberts, 39: Assistant principal at Yates High School. Roberts is accused of recruiting nearly 100 teachers to take part in the cheating scheme.
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Houston ISD news conference following alleged teacher cheating scheme announced by Harris Co. District Attorney
The Houston Independent School District held a last-minute news conference on Monday following an alleged teacher cheating scheme that was announced by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg on Monday.
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All five defendants face two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.