A million-dollar cheating ring resulted in at least 210 unqualified teachers, including two sexual predators, receiving teacher certifications. The ring was exposed this week after the Harris County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against five individuals involved.
The alleged ringleader is Vincent Grayson, the head boys basketball coach at Houston’s Booker T. Washington High School.
Also charged are Tywana Gilford Mason, the teacher certification test proctor; Nicholas Newton, an assistant principal who served as the proxy test-taker; Darian Nikole Wilhite, another proctor; and LaShonda Roberts, an assistant principal at Yates High School who helped recruit would-be teachers.
All are charged with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
Allegedly, candidates seeking certification would pay Grayson $2,500. He would then give a 20 percent portion to Gilford Mason, who would then allow Newton to sit for the test under the teacher’s name. The candidates would be given a testing time and location by Gilford Mason, then show up, sign in, and leave. Newton would then arrive and take the test for them.
Mason was previously charged with bribery in another unrelated case twenty years ago.
More than 90 teachers were reportedly sent through the “program” this year. Altogether, 430 tests were fraudulently taken according to the indictment. The scam started in May 2020 and was revealed when a former coach, who was applying to be a police officer in another part of the state, informed investigators about the scam. The coach described it as an open secret among people who wanted to be teachers. Many of the teachers had previously failed the test numerous times in their location and would then drive, sometimes hours, to Houston and surprisingly pass the test with “flying colors.”
The cheating ring collectively profited at least $1 million through the scheme.
A statement from Houston ISD explained the district had no knowledge of the ongoing scam:
HISD was made aware of the investigation into an alleged cheating conspiracy shortly before arrests were made. Any educator who engages in conduct of this nature abdicates their responsibility to our students and to our staff and represents a complete betrayal of the public trust. HISD will cooperate fully with the Texas Education Agency and state and local law enforcement as the investigation progresses. All three of these employees have been arrested and will be receiving notifications relieving them of their duties effective immediately.
Additionally, if it is determined that any teachers currently working in HISD participated in this scheme or passed their certification exams fraudulently, we will take swift action to terminate their employment with the District.
Outgoing District Attorney Kim Ogg said, “All face first or third-degree felony charges that can carry sentences ranging from 2 years to life imprisonment.”
The Texas Education Agency was first notified about the scam. The Office of the Attorney General, in turn, notified the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
