HOUSTON – Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg revealed a teacher certification scheme that spanned nearly four years on Monday.
Five individuals, including three employees of the Houston Independent School District, were arrested in connection with a million-dollar teacher certification scheme, according to Kim Ogg.
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Ogg revealed that the scam involved at least 400 tests, resulting in the false certification of at least 210 teachers. The scheme was exposed by a former coach who was in the process of applying to become a police officer, Ogg said.
“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,” Ogg explained.
So, what’s being done about the teachers involved?
So far, Ogg said 20 teachers have cooperated with investigators, telling very similar stories of how the scheme was played out and operated.
The teachers allegedly told Ogg that the teacher-certification candidates would pay one of the HISD coaches charged, Vincent Grayson usually $2,500. He then would forward roughly 20% of that money to Gilford Mason for her willingness to allow the cheating to occur.
The candidate would then reportedly be instructed by Grayson, on where and when exactly to test. They would come, show ID, sign in and leave.
A few minutes later, Nicholas Newton, the proxy tester, would reportedly sit in their seat, take and pass the test that they felt they could not.
On some occasions, Newton would allegedly take more than one test.
Although multiple districts across the Houston area are said to be involved in the alleged scheme, HISD has been the only district that has released a statement regarding the situation. The district said any teacher who fraudulently became certified would be terminated immediately.
The Texas Education Agency said it could not comment on ongoing investigations but did confirm their agency is investigating the scheme.