HOUSTON – A teacher-certification cheating scheme spanning several years and reportedly generating over $1 million in fraudulent profits has led to criminal charges against five individuals, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Monday.
BACKGROUND: 200 unqualified teachers certified in $1M Houston-based cheating scheme
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Authorities allege the operation helped unqualified teaching candidates pass Texas certification exams by employing a network of insiders, proctors, and proxy test-takers.
The alleged ring involved Houston-area teacher and coach Vincent Grayson, identified as the scheme’s mastermind, who is accused of coordinating with proctors to allow candidates to pay for passing scores without taking the exams.
READ: Booker T. Washington HS coach identified as ‘kingpin’ in million dollar teacher cheating scheme
The are the suspects charged in the scheme:
- Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD for nearly 20 years. Grayson was charged as the organizer of the cheating scheme.
- Tywana Gilford Mason, 51, the former director/VA certifying official at the Houston Training and Education Center. Mason’s 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. Newton is alleged to have participated in the scheme as the proxy test-taker.
- Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22, a proctor at TACTIX who is alleged to have taken bribes to allow Newton to act as a testing proxy.
- LaShonda Roberts, 39, an assistant principal at Yates High School in Houston ISD. Roberts is charged with recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the cheating scheme.
All five defendants are charged with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activity.
The investigation, initiated in mid-2023 after irregularities were flagged at the Houston Training and Education Center (H. Tech), uncovered patterns of suspicious activity. Many teacher candidates reportedly traveled from distant Texas cities to Houston after failing previous exams and achieved high scores on the subsequent fraudulent attempts.
A tip led authorities to examine records linked to email addresses, payment methods, and contact numbers, which ultimately identified Grayson and his associates.
Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Scheme
1. Fees and bribes: Teacher candidates allegedly paid Grayson around $2,500 each. Grayson then forwarded approximately 20% to H. Tech proctor Guilford Mason, allowing the cheating to proceed. Investigators claim Grayson paid Mason over $125,000 in bribes through more than 350 transactions via Zelle and Cash App.
2. Proxy testing: Candidates signed in, showed ID, and then exited the testing room, allowing Nicholas Newton, a hired proxy test-taker, to take the exams in their place. Newton is accused of taking over 430 certification exams on behalf of others, earning around $188,000. He was apprehended in early 2024 while logged into two separate tests on different terminals under different candidates’ identities.
3. Recruitment network: Sandra Roberts is accused of recruiting candidates for the scheme, reportedly referring over 90 individuals and forwarding $267,000 to Grayson while profiting from each referral.
4. Continued operation at a new location: When H. Tech shut down due to suspicious activity, Grayson allegedly moved the scheme to Tactics Testing Center, another Houston location. Proctor Darian Wilhite reportedly facilitated cheating at the new site, accepting $250 per session to allow candidates to sign in and leave while Newton or another proxy took the test.
Charges and investigation
Grayson is alleged to have made over $1 million through the operation. The investigation has involved extensive bank and phone records and multiple witness interviews, with investigators urging anyone with further information to come forward.
The investigation is ongoing.