HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — All the suspects indicted made their first court appearances Tuesday, one day after the announcement of an alleged teacher certification scandal in Houston.
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office continues to learn more about what happened as it confirms that a statewide scheme was concocted to qualify hundreds of salaried teachers.
It is not yet known how many, if any, of the more than 200 teachers who benefited from the scandal and paid $2,500 to become certified in Houston Independent School District schools.
RELATED: $200,000 bail set for 2 of 5 suspects charged in teacher certification cheating scandal
The Texas Education Agency did not provide a list of the teachers involved in the situation, citing the investigation.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that five people have been indicted in the teacher qualification fraud scandal.
That includes three HISD employees who have now been relieved of their duties. HISD confirmed Monday that these employees will continue to receive paid leave during the remainder of the process.
One of them includes the man who is believed to be the mastermind behind the plan.
Vincent Grayson, 57, head of boys basketball at Booker T. Washington High School. Grayson is accused of bribing a testing site official and two HISD principals to help carry out the four-year plan.
“From May 2020 to February 2024, we charged a teacher $2,500 to arrange for a teacher seeking certification to check into a testing site, the teacher retired, and someone else took the certification exam. “It is said that he was subject to this,” the hearing officer said. Harris County Probable Cause Court.
An officer set bail at $300,000.
Former Booker T. Washington Vice Principal Nicholas Newton also appeared in court Tuesday.
“This defendant was the agent who took the test on behalf of the participant,” the hearing officer read aloud in court.
His bond was set at $200,000. He is accused of taking more than 400 tests to help teachers in the state become certified.
The judge also set bail at $200,000 for former Yates High School assistant principal LaShonda Roberts, who is accused of recruiting dozens of teachers to join the fraud ring.
Mr. Roberts was absent from probable cause court. But her lawyer showed up for her.
“Since my client is no longer working, her financial capacity will be severely limited,” said Lupbaerts’ lawyer.
RELATED: Five people indicted in connection with teacher certification scandal, Harris County prosecutor announced
HISD Communications Director Alexandra Elizondo said Monday after news of the scandal broke that it was “totally unacceptable.”
This was an investigation by HISD, and the district claims it was unaware of it until shortly before the arrest.
HISD is investigating the situation and announced that it will terminate the teachers who obtained their credentials through this fraudulent scheme.
TEA will not say where these teachers have been or whether they continue to teach.
SEE ALSO: 13 Studies: Uncertified teachers in HISD more than double this year
Follow Daniela Hurtado on Facebook for updates on this article. × And Instagram.
Copyright © 2024 KTRK-TV. All rights reserved.
