KPRC 2 obtains list of Houston-area teachers under investigation in certification cheating scandal

HOUSTON – KPRC 2 has obtained a Texas Education Agency list containing the names of Houston-area teachers currently under investigation for teacher certification fraud that allowed unqualified teachers to work in local school districts.

((Jump to bottom for complete list of teachers))

We first reported the news in October after Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced the indictment of five people for participating in the fraud scheme.

The scheme was reportedly worth more than $1 million and involved falsifying credentials to secure teaching jobs for individuals who did not meet qualification requirements, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The prosecutor’s office estimated that the ring’s kingpins made more than $1 million from the scheme.

According to court documents, an estimated 430 tests were taken fraudulently and more than 210 uncertified teachers were certified under the system and currently teach or have previously taught in Texas public schools. It turns out.

The scandal is believed to have affected multiple school districts in the region, raising concerns about educational standards and public safety.

The list includes the names of at least 38 teachers from 11 Houston-area school districts.

According to TEA, the school district associated with these educators does not mean that the educator is currently employed, but as of the end of either the 2022-2023 school year or the 2023-2024 school year. It is said that it is based on the location of employment.

TEA told KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that districts on the list have been notified about the educators being investigated, but the agency has not received up-to-date employment information for each educator. Some individuals said they no longer worked for the district at last known date.

TEA said it fully expects additional investigations will be initiated once the agency receives more information.

The following suspects charged in this scheme have been identified:

Tiwana Guilford Mason, 51, former director/VA certified employee of the Houston Training and Education Center. Mason’s role as a proctor allowed him to keep the proxy scheme undetected.

Darian Nicole Willhite, 22, a TACTIX proctor, allegedly bribed Newton to substitute her for the test.

List of teachers under investigation:

Houston area neighborhoods

Alvin ISD (5)

jefferson collins

nehandra edwards

Garrett, Michael

brandon manning

white, daphne

Conroe ISD (1)

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD (4)

arthur green

rodney hampton

Yamil Valenzuela

Kathy Whiting

Fort Bend ISD (4)

brown, april

Cook, Vivian

aaron darley

Thomas Tavares

Galena Park ISD (1)

Harris County Office of Education (1)

Houston ISD (15)

fred galloway

Ernest, Grant

alexia harris

Jerrod Henderson

jerome hill

Tiffany Johnson

daniel kendricks

arthur rocket

charles peterson

mark pollett

LaShonda Roberts (Entered 10/29/24) – Indicted

Latisha session

Earl Westbrooks

Vincent Grayson (entered on 10/29/24) – Charged with being the ringleader

Nicholas Newton (entered on 10/29/24) – Indicted

Katy ISD (2)

Kwabena Agyei

McAfee, Calandra

Pearland ISD (1)

Spring ISD (3)

Allah, Mecca

Alison Dawson

Sterling Finney

Spring Branch ISD (1)

Districts outside the Houston area

The remaining districts are outside the Houston area and are grouped as follows:

Allen ISD (1)

Arlington ISD (3)

sheila bragg

martin, money

Bersey, Jordan

Beaumont ISD (2)

nolan, tristan

Wright, Tanisha

Cedar Hill ISD (1)

Chapel Hill ISD (1)

Crowley ISD (2)

green, donarius

Janesha Halliburton

Dallas ISD (9)

Din, Jeremiah

Goss, Jason

Jania Heath

antonio mauldin

Plymouth, Niger

jordan, rogers

Taj Spielman

Cairo, Thornton

thomas washington

DeSoto ISD (1)

Duncanville ISD (8)

charles preston hill

Tanedra Jones

Key, Simone

Jeffrey Luster

Keisha Mays

latoya moore

Gabriel Samuels

Tribble Jr., Alford

Eagle Mount – Saginaw ISD (1)

Everman ISD (1)

Fort Worth ISD (5)

Bowman Smith “Destiny”

Hogan, Hannah

Regan Waterford, Sheba

dominique reagor

Reuben Bourne

Garland ISD (1)

Galena Park ISD (1)

Hardin-Jefferson ISD (1)

Irving ISD (2)

Markel Cooks

Ford, Carrington

Linden Kildare CISD (1)

Lancaster ISD (2)

corey douglas

Dallaire Spears

Madisonville ISD (1)

Mansfield ISD (2)

Adams, Xavier

Shameika Osborne

Mesquite ISD (2)

Marion Baxter

Virgil, Chason

Mineral Wells ISD (1)

Palestine ISD (1)

Port Arthur ISD (5)

Callihan, Armani

tierani decure

charlotte green allison

quintin johnson

edwin nelson

Princeton ISD (2)

Dillard, Jacari

Isaiah Santos

Red Oak ISD (1)

Richardson ISD (2)

dwayne crawford

devan hollins

Temple ISD (1)

Waxahachie ISD (2)

germaine beer

marcus swift