TEA Releases Names of “First Batch” of 100+ Teachers Under SBEC Investigation in Certification Cheating Scheme

The TEA on Wednesday released what was described as the first batch of more than 100 teachers that SBEC is investigating as being possibly involved in a massive educator certification cheating scheme that allegedly involved individuals paying bribes to have others take certification tests for them at a Houston testing center (article).

The TEA said the identified individuals worked for districts across Texas during SY 2022-23 and/or SY 2023-24.

Out of all the school districts listed, Houston ISD has the most educators allegedly involved, with 16 teachers.

• Note: Fox 26 Houston published the list of the individuals and their districts. The names include three of the five people who were indicted by a Harris County grand jury as being masterminds of the scheme (now former-Houston ISD employees Vincent Grayson, Nicholas Newton and LaShonda Roberts).

Jessica McLoughlin — TEA associate commissioner, educator preparation, certification and enforcement — told the State Board of Education (SBOE) School Initiatives Committee during the November board meeting that certified individuals identified as having potentially participated in the scheme will have a flag placed on their virtual certifications pending further investigation by SBEC.

Educators challenging proposed sanctions are entitled to a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), with a final decision made by SBEC’s governing board.

McLoughlin did not mention to the committee that educators can avoid sanctions by voluntarily surrendering their certifications to SBEC.

Criminal charges would be under the purview of the Harris County district attorney’s office.