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Test proctor in Houston-based teacher-certificate cheating scandal arrested, bond set at $75K

Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22, a proctor at TACTIX who is alleged to have taken bribes to allow Newton to act as a testing proxy. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – A fourth person linked to a million-dollar Houston-based cheating scandal involving hundreds of unqualified teachers getting certified to teach at various local schools is now behind bars.

RELATED: Former Houston ISD ‘kingpin,’ assistant principals behind million-dollar teacher certificate scandal appear in court

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Darian Nikole Wilhite, 22, a proctor at TACTIX is accused of taking bribes to allow to act as a testing proxy for candidates trying to get their teaching certificates.

She was one of five people named in the investigation, according to DA Kim Ogg, but three former HISD staff taken into custody Monday. Vincent Grayson, 57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD was charged as the “kingpin” in the cheating scheme. Nicholas Newton, 35, an assistant principal at the school where Grayson worked was also arrested as well as LaShonda Roberts, 39, another assistant principal at Jack Yates High School. Officials said she is accused of recruiting nearly 100 teachers.

EXPLAINER: How alleged $1M Houston-based teacher cheating scheme worked

According to court papers, Wilhite was paid $250 cash by Coach Grayson each time she allowed Newton to test in place of the correct candidate.

Wilhite was arrested overnight Friday and appeared before a probable cause court judge, where her bond was set at $75K total.

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.


About the Authors
Ahmed Humble headshot

Historian, educator, writer, expert on "The Simpsons," amateur photographer, essayist, film & tv reviewer and race/religious identity scholar. Joined KPRC 2 in Spring 2024 but has been featured in various online newspapers and in the Journal of South Texas' Fall 2019 issue.

Bryce Newberry headshot

Bryce Newberry joined KPRC 2 in July 2022. He loves the thrill of breaking news and digging deep on a story that gets people talking.

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