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What Is TEA Exam?
The Texas Educator Assessment (TEA) exam, commonly called the Texas Examinations of Educator Standards (TExES), evaluates the knowledge, skills, and readiness of individuals aiming to become certified educators in Texas. Specifically, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) administers these exams, which are mandatory for candidates seeking teaching positions in public or charter schools across the state.
Furthermore, the purpose of the TEA exam is to ensure that educators entering the workforce possess the subject-specific knowledge and pedagogical abilities necessary to foster effective learning environments for students at various educational levels.
The TEA Exam Has Multiple Components
The TEA exam divides its components based on the certification that each individual seeks, ensuring a tailored assessment for every teaching specialization. For example, candidates aiming to teach elementary school students take exams focusing on core subjects, including English, mathematics, social studies, science, and fine arts. In contrast, those seeking certification in secondary education may focus on subject-specific tests, such as English Language Arts, Mathematics, or Science. Additionally, the TEA offers specialized exams for certifications in bilingual education, special education, and educational administration. Each test evaluates a candidate’s proficiency in the respective subject area and aligns with Texas’s educational standards and curriculum requirements to ensure consistency and quality.
To Be A Teacher
To take the TEA exam, candidates must first complete a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP), which may be part of a university curriculum or an alternative certification program. Subsequently, after completing the EPP, candidates must register for the TExES exams appropriate for their desired certification. The tests typically feature a combination of multiple-choice questions, along with some constructed-response items for specific subjects. Moreover, achieving a passing score on the TEA exam is a critical step in the Texas teacher certification process, as it allows educators to qualify for a standard teaching certificate, valid across the state.
A Scandal Hits HISD
The recent Texas teacher certification scandal, exposed in Houston, involves a scheme where several educators allegedly paid to bypass certification tests, a process required for legal teaching positions in Texas. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office revealed that this statewide scheme involved more than 200 teachers who each paid $2,500 to secure their certification fraudulently. Key players in the operation reportedly included three Houston Independent School District (HISD) employees. Among them, two assistant principals have already been placed on paid leave as the investigation unfolds.
How The Scam Was Ran
The Texas teacher certification scandal was a sophisticated operation involving five key individuals who facilitated a scheme allowing uncertified teachers to bypass state-mandated exams. Notably, the ring leader, Vincent Grayson, who was a boys’ basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School, allegedly organized the scheme by arranging for unqualified individuals to pay $2,500 for a guaranteed passing certification.
Grayson bribed a testing center official, Tywana Gilford Mason, who allowed the fraudulent activity to proceed undetected by falsifying test results. She served as the point of entry into the system, which helped conceal the use of proxy test-takers at the certification exams.
An Assistant Principal Helped Out
The scheme functioned by arranging specific testing appointments, during which an accomplice, Nicholas Newton, a school assistant principal, would take certification exams on behalf of paying candidates. Newton, allegedly a frequent proxy, reportedly earned over $188,000 for taking these tests.
Additionally, LaShonda Roberts, another assistant principal, allegedly recruited nearly 100 teachers into the scheme, which significantly expanded the scam’s reach and impact. Some teachers allegedly paid intermediaries, who then shared the funds across multiple layers within the scheme.
How Long The Scam Was Going
The DA’s office revealed that the operation, active since the pandemic onset in 2020, netted over $1 million, with Grayson allegedly collecting substantial sums. However, the plot unraveled when a former coach, familiar with the scheme and seeking to become a police officer, reported it to authorities. Furthermore, the involvement of key school officials in this fraudulent operation highlights the extent to which individuals entrusted with educational authority exploited their positions for financial gain, putting unqualified teachers in Texas classrooms.
This has not only led to immediate suspensions of those implicated but also prompted broader investigations to identify any additional teachers who may have received certification through fraudulent means. Meanwhile, the TEA and local law enforcement are collaborating to ensure those involved face penalties and that future certification processes prevent similar fraud.
The Investigation Into The Scam
The investigation into the Texas teacher certification cheating scandal began when the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and testing company Pearson noticed suspicious patterns at the Houston Training & Education Center. Then, in mid-2023, they received a tip about applicants who had repeatedly failed the certification exams but were suddenly passing with high scores after traveling to Houston from distant cities.
This irregularity raised alarms, prompting a closer examination of testing procedures at the center. Subsequently, investigators discovered that certain candidates would check in for exams but leave shortly after, while an accomplice would take the tests on their behalf, a practice that appeared highly organized.
How The Money Was Split
Central to the scheme was Vincent Grayson, identified as the mastermind who orchestrated the system. Grayson allegedly connected with Tywana Mason, a willing staff member at the testing center, and arranged for aspiring teachers to pay him around $2,500 for fraudulent certifications. Investigators revealed that Mason received approximately 20% of the proceeds to allow this activity to continue unchecked. Assistant Principal Nicholas Newton, allegedly hired as a “proxy test-taker,” reportedly took exams for numerous candidates, earning around $188,000. Meanwhile, another assistant principal, LaShonda Roberts, recruited dozens of teachers, reportedly earning $267,000 for bringing in new clients.
The Evidence That Was Collected
The investigation uncovered bank records, communication logs, and confessions from approximately 20 participants, providing prosecutors with substantial evidence. Consequently, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office revealed that the fraudulent activity allowed hundreds of unqualified teachers to work in classrooms across Texas, posing risks to students’ education and safety. Furthermore, HISD has committed to working closely with law enforcement and the TEA to identify any employees with fraudulently obtained certifications, promising termination for those involved. Meanwhile, the TEA has stated it will pursue actions against implicated educators, while the State Board of Educator Certification will determine appropriate sanctions.
What They Were Charged
In the Texas teacher certification scandal, five individuals face charges connected to a fraudulent scheme designed to help uncertified individuals pass the state’s teacher certification exams. This operation allowed hundreds of unqualified teachers to work in Texas classrooms, putting educational standards at risk.
Vincent Grayson
Vincent Grayson, a boys’ basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School, is charged as the organizer or “kingpin” of the operation. Specifically, he allegedly coordinated with other suspects to arrange testing proxies and secure illegal certifications. Furthermore, Grayson faces two counts of organized criminal activity, with his bond set at $300,000, as authorities believe he profited over $1 million from the scheme by charging aspiring teachers around $2,500 each.
Nicholas Newton
Assistant principal Nicholas Newton of Booker T. Washington High is also implicated. Known as the primary test-taker within the scheme, Newton allegedly took exams on behalf of numerous candidates, reportedly earning around $188,000 for his role. His bond was set at $100,000 for each count of organized criminal activity.
LaShonda Roberts
Another key player, LaShonda Roberts, an assistant principal at Yates High School, allegedly recruited nearly 100 teachers to participate in the scheme, reportedly collecting over $267,000 in fees. She also faces two counts of organized criminal activity, with her bond set at $100,000 for each count.
Tywana Mason
The scheme relied on additional help from individuals with access to testing sites. Tywana Gilford Mason, a former director at the Houston Training & Education Center, allegedly facilitated the fraudulent activities by permitting Newton and others to impersonate test-takers at her facility. Consequently, this enabled the cheating scheme to operate smoothly under her supervision. In exchange for her role, Mason allegedly received a portion of the payments from Grayson.
Darian Wilhite
Darian Nikole Wilhite, a test proctor, allegedly accepted bribes, allowing the testing substitutions to go unnoticed. As a result, the fraudulent activity continued without raising suspicion.
The Sentencing They may Be Given
All five defendants face two felony counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, charges that carry potential sentences ranging from two years to life in prison. The gravity of these charges underscores the widespread impact of the scheme on Texas education, as well as the organized and financially motivated nature of the operation. The investigation revealed that, through this network, each suspect played a critical role in compromising Texas’s teacher certification standards, a betrayal that has led to swift administrative action and ongoing legal proceedings.
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FAQs on the Texas Teacher Certification Scandal
The key individuals include Vincent Grayson, Nicholas Newton, LaShonda Roberts, Tywana Gilford Mason, and Darian Nikole Wilhite, each charged for their roles in the organized cheating scheme.
The scheme involved aspiring teachers paying $2,500 to have proxies take certification exams for them, with help from testing administrators who facilitated the fraud.
All five suspects are charged with two counts of organized criminal activity, with potential sentences ranging from two years to life in prison.
The scandal was uncovered after irregularities were flagged in 2023, such as distant candidates passing exams with unusually high scores after traveling to specific test centers in Houston.
The scandal compromised education standards by allowing unqualified individuals to work as teachers, undermining trust in the certification process and harming students’ education.
