HOUSTON – Judging by his accolades, Vincent Grayson was a standup guy and a good coach. He was the head basketball coach at a Houston public high school in the state’s largest school district. Earlier this year he was nominated for High School Coach of the Year at the Houston Sports Awards. He led the team to their first-ever UIL state tournament in 2023.
Now he’s accused of being the ‘kingpin’ in a teacher cheating scandal that brought in more than a million dollars over four years and put more than 210 uncertified teachers in schools throughout the state. Two of those teachers were sexual predators.
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Grayson, 57, had worked at Booker T. Washington High School for 22 years and was making $4,500 a month when he was abruptly fired Monday after investigators identified him as the ringleader.
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Here’s how the cheating scheme worked
Investigators laid out this scheme:
- The coach had a setup where teachers who’d failed their certification tests or were afraid they couldn’t pass, would pay him $2,500.
- Grayson would tell them exactly when to come to one of two testing centers where test proctors took money from Grayson to allow the cheating.
- Teachers showed up on the appointed day, showed ID, signed in, and then left.
- A few minutes later, the assistant principal at Grayson’s school would sit in their seats and take the test for them. He took more than 430 tests for teachers.
- An assistant principal from another school helped recruit and refer candidates to Grayson. She took $1,000 from each for them to have access to Grayson.
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“Numerous teacher certification candidates seemed to fit the same criteria where they would drive from far-flung cities, sometimes from Dallas, Fort Worth, or farther. Often these people had previously failed one or more attempts at the certification exam. They then drove sometimes four or more hours to the Houston area and suddenly they were passing the test with flying colors,” said the chief investigator, Mike Levine.
Certifications open the door to better jobs, better opportunities and higher pay.
“So someone might be making $20,000 or $30,000 a year and now suddenly they have an opportunity to triple their salary. But of course, they have to pass the certification test. That directly led to people wanting to take advantage of the scheme,” Levine said.
Before a judge set Grayson’s bond at $300K, she explained how he shared the $1,090,000 he took in from the scheme.
- $188,000 went to the assistant principal who took the tests.
- $125,000 went to a test proctor who allowed the cheating to take place at the Houston Training and Education Center.
- A second test proctor at a different testing location was given an undisclosed amount of money.
All five defendants are charged with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
How things fell apart
Investigators were tipped off by a Good Samaritan.
“It was actually a Good Samaritan with a conscience that brought this scheme to light. A former coach applying as a police officer in a different part of Texas had an attack of conscience and came forward with a scheme that was apparently well known among teacher applicants wanting to be certified,” said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. “That busted this phony test-taking scheme right out of the water.”
That initial tip led them first to an email address, a Zelle account, a Cash App account and a phone number, which eventually led them to the five suspects.
The test-taker, who investigators estimate took at least 430 certification tests from May of 2020 through February of this year, was caught red-handed taking not one, but two tests at the same time. Investigators say he gave a full confession as did 20 teachers.
“It’s very troubling,” lead investigator Levine said. “Because a teacher, especially teachers and coaches who help influence children’s behavior, we count on them for their moral compass, right? A part of what they do goes beyond their mastery of their subject matter. To think that this many people, without what I would consider a proper moral compass, were trying to educate and influence children all across the state is definitely troubling.”
What’s next for the coach?
Grayson, as part of his bond conditions, cannot have any contact with his four co-defendants.
He can’t go within 200 feet of a testing center in the county where he lives.
His travel is limited to his county and adjoining counties.
He can’t use, possess, or consume marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs.
He can’t possess or use a firearm.
He has to wear an electronic monitor.
“Greed knew no boundaries in this case,” said DA Kim Ogg. “If you’ve got an assistant principal, a head coach and others posing as certified teachers, we just aren’t going to be able to calculate the damage there. But we know that further investigation is needed and we look forward to the TEA taking the responsible and necessary approach to getting these teachers out of our schools and away from kids.”