The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is investigating more than 200 teachers amid concerns that they may have obtained fraudulent certifications through a $1 million cheating operation allegedly led by three educators from the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
The accused ringleaders include Vincent Grayson, a high school basketball coach at Booker T. Washington, LaShonda Roberts, an assistant principal at Jack Yates High School, and Nicholas Newton, an assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High, reported Newsweek. All three are facing criminal charges related to the scheme.
The bonds for the ringleaders were initially set at $300,000 for Grayson and $200,000 each for Roberts and Newton, although Grayson’s bond was later reduced to $100,000 and Roberts’ to $50,000.
The TEA has since expanded its probe to include an additional 60 teachers from 33 school districts who may have benefited from this fraudulent network.
Among the newcomers, 24 represent eight school districts in the Houston area. This includes nine new teachers from Houston ISD, five from Cy-Fair ISD, and three each from Aldine ISD and Fort Bend ISD, reported KPRC 2.
If proven true, these allegations suggest that over 200 individuals may have taught in Texas without proper qualifications.
In October 2024, prosecutors announced charges against five individuals, including three HISD staff members. They claimed these individuals orchestrated a scheme to accredit teachers, fraudulently amassing over $1 million.
“In accordance with State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules, TEA will review any and all information shared by law enforcement and pursue appropriate action against any educator involved in this scheme,” the TEA stated in October 2024, per Newsweek.
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg noted that at least 200 teachers received false certifications through more than 400 bogus tests, with the scheme possibly starting back in May 2020. Disturbingly, two individuals who received fraudulent credentials were eventually identified as sexual predators.
In response to the scandal, HISD released a statement in December 2024 affirming its commitment to maintaining high hiring and training standards for educators.
“HISD has a rigorous approach to recruiting, hiring, training, and supporting educators so that all our students get the education they deserve. It is a shame that a small handful of individuals, out of HISD’s more than ten thousand dedicated teachers, allegedly tried to cheat the system and Houston’s students. All of the individuals have been relieved of their duties and reassigned pending the outcome of the state’s investigation.”
The investigation is ongoing, with the potential for disciplinary measures and legal repercussions for those identified.
Some of the teachers under investigation include teachers in the surrounding metroplex. According to KPRC 2, here are the non-Houston-area districts and teachers currently under investigation:
Allen ISD (1)
- Williams, Jeremiah
Alvarado ISD (1)
- Cisneroz, Lawrence
Arlington ISD (5)
- Bragg, Shayla
- Martin, Money
- Roberts, Nia
- Smith, Nicolas
- Versey, Jordan
Beaumont ISD (3)
- Nolan, Tristan
- Prince, Terrell
- Wright, Tanisha
Boling ISD (1)
- Mathis, Wade
Carthage ISD (1)
- Hill, Reginald
Cedar Hill ISD (2)
- Burns, Devonta
- Spivey, Terrion
Chapel Hill ISD (1)
- Raymond, Roald
Crowley ISD (3)
- Green, Dnarius
- Haliburton, Janesha
- Oneal, Crystal
Dallas ISD (13)
- Din, Jeremiah
- Goss, Jason
- Hanks, Adrianne
- Heath, Janea
- Mauldin, Antonio
- Primas, Nyzhe
- Rodriguez, Hugo
- Rogers, Jordan
- Spillman, Tahj
- Thornton, Cairo
- Washington, Thomas
- Willingham, Kenneth
- Winn, Robert L.
Del Valle ISD (2)
- Edouard, Alin
- Jackson, Aaron
DeSoto ISD (1)
- Malone, Germia
Duncanville ISD (11)
- Hardaway, Dwight
- Hemphill, Patrick
- Hill, Charles Preston
- Jones, Taneadra
- Key, Simone
- Luster, Jeffrey
- Mayes, Keisha
- Moore, LaToya
- Samuels, Gabriel
- Simmons, Michelle
- Tribble Jr, Alford
Eagle Mt- Saginaw ISD (1)
- Mallet, Dayton
Everman ISD (2)
- Bennett, Brandon
- Hendrix, Caleb
Fort Worth ISD (5)
- Bowman-Smith, Destiny
- Hogan, Hanna
- Regan-Waterford, Sheba
- Reagor, Dominique
- Vaughn, Reuben
Garland ISD (1)
- Kelly, Antonio
Granbury ISD (1)
- Mitchell, Donald
Hardin-Jefferson ISD (1)
- Sneed, Omar
Irving ISD (2)
- Cooks, Markel
- Ford, Karrington
Keene ISD (1)
- Bailey, Rico
Lake Dallas ISD (1)
- Reid, Robert
Lancaster ISD (2)
- Douglas, Corey
- Spears, Darrea
Linden-Kildare CISD (1)
- Clark, Randel
Lufkin ISD (1)
- Holt, Taishia
Madisonville ISD (1)
- Robinson, Nikia
Mansfield ISD (2)
- Adams, Xavier
- Osborne, Shameika
Maypearl ISD (1)
- Cannon, Quentin
Mesquite ISD (4)
- Baxter, Marion
- Metcalf, Quincy
- Swann, Lamonda
- Virgil, Chason
Mineral Wells ISD (1)
- Luster, Taylor
Northside ISD (1)
- Taylor, Colin
Palestine ISD (1)
- Hargers, Brandon
Plano ISD (1)
- McNeal, Devante
Port Arthur ISD (6)
- Callihan, Armani
- Decuir, Tieranny
- Green-Allison, Charlotte
- Johnson, Quintin
- Nelson, Edwin
- Williams, Michelle
Princeton ISD (2)
- Dillard, Jakari
- Santos, Isaiah
Red Oak ISD (1)
- White, JaQuan
Richardson ISD (3)
- Crawford, Dwain
- Hollins, Devan
- Onic, Ellis
Royal ISD (1)
- Hayes, Charmini
Temple ISD (1)
- Ortiz, Jazzmen
Waco ISD (1)
- Webb, Anthony
Waxahachie ISD (2)
- Beal, Jermaine
- Swift, Marcus
Wichita Falls ISD (1)
-
Beaver, Shavodrick