HOUSTON – KPRC 2 has obtained a new list from the Texas Education Agency that contains the names of 60 new Texas educators who are currently under investigation in a teacher-certification cheating scheme that allowed unqualified teachers to work in local school districts.
Of the new entries, 24 of them are from eight different Houston-area school districts, including nine new educators from Houston ISD, five from Cy-Fair ISD and three from Aldine ISD and Fort Bend ISD.
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Five educators have been formally charged for their involvement in the scandal, including Vincent Grayson, 57, the former head boys’ basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD who was charged as the organizer of the cheating scheme.
SEE ALSO: KPRC 2 obtains list of Houston-area teachers under investigation in certification cheating scandal
[[ Jump to the bottom for full list of teachers ]]
BREAKING: 60 additional Texas educators are now under investigation in connection to a statewide certification cheating scandal which has resulted in five indictments, bringing total to 160, including alleged kingpin HISD basketball coach Vincent Grayson. https://t.co/s9zO1d331H
— KPRC 2 Bryce Newberry (@KPRC2Bryce) February 6, 2025
We first broke the news in October after then-Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the indictment of five people accused of participating in the cheating scheme.
The alleged scheme, reportedly worth more than a million dollars, involved falsifying credentials to secure teaching positions for individuals who did not meet certification requirements, according to the District Attorney’s office.
The DA’s Office estimated that the ring’s kingpin had grossed more than $1 million from the scheme.
Court documents show an estimated 430 tests were taken fraudulently and more than 210 unqualified teachers were certified in this scheme, who are now instructing or previously taught at Texas public schools.
The scandal is believed to have impacted multiple school districts in the area, leading to heightened concerns about educational standards and public safety.
According to TEA, the districts associated with these educators do not mean that it’s their current place of employment but is based on their place of employment at the end of either the 2022-2023 or 2023-2024 school year.
Back in December, TEA told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that the listed school districts had been notified about the educators under investigation from the first release.
In December, TEA also said it fully expected additional investigations to be opened as the agency receives more information. The new names are a result of these follow-up investigations.
The following suspects charged in the scheme have been identified:
- 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. Both charges against Roberts were dismissed on Feb. 4, 2025.
List of the following teachers under investigation:
Houston-area districts
Aldine ISD (3)
- Harbin, Julia
- James, Odell
- Johnson, LaTyler
Alief ISD (1)
- Smith, Rod
Alvin ISD (5)
- Collins, Jefferson
- Edwards, Nehandra
- Garrett, Michael
- Manning, Brandon
- White, Daphney
Conroe ISD (1)
- Selvage, Perry
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (9)
- Ganaway (Johnson), Tomeka
- Green, Arthur
- Hamilton, Leeland
- Hampton, Rodney
- Lewis, Xaquenetta
- Marshall, Jeremy
- Valenzuela, Yamille
- Whiting, Cathy
- Wilson, Darius
Fort Bend ISD (7)
- Brown, April
- Cook, Vivian
- Durley, Aaron
- Fogle, William
- Harris, Kimberly
- Octave, Natashia
- Thomas, Tavares
Galena Park ISD (1)
- Mack, Johnnie
Goose Creek ISD (1)
- Tarry, Levah
Harris County Dept of Education (1)
- Gray, Xavier
Houston ISD (24)
- Crump, Donna
- Galloway, Fred
- Granger, Jona
- Grant, Ernest
- Grayson, Vincent (10/29/24 entry) - Alleged ring leader indicted
- Harris, Alexcia
- Henderson, Gerrod
- Hill, Jerome
- Jimenez, Monique
- Johnson, Tiffany
- Kendricks, Danyelle
- Lockett, Arthur
- Newton, Nicholas (10/29/24 entry) - Indicted
- Peterson, Charles
- Politte, Mark
- Rideaux, Sherman
- Roberts, LaShonda (10/29/24 entry) - Dismissed
- Session, Latisha
- Smith, Kaylon
- Swain, Cody
- Vaezie, Allen
- Walker, George
- Westbrooks, Earl
- Woods, William
Humble ISD (1)
- Turner, Reginald
Katy ISD (2)
- Agyei, Kwabena
- McAfee, Calandra
Pearland ISD (1)
- Oglesby, Toye
Spring ISD (4)
- Allah, Mecca
- Dawson, Allison
- Finney, Sterling
- Martin, Lajuana
Spring Branch ISD (1)
- Glass-Hammond, Autumn
Non Houston-area districts
The remaining districts are located outside of the Houston area, grouped as follows:
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
