Bond set at $200,000 for Booker T. Washington HS assistant principal in Houston teacher fraud scandal

HOUSTON – A former one Houston ISD The assistant principal appeared in court Tuesday, charged with acting as a proxy test taker in a complex scheme to cheat on teacher certification examswhich reportedly grossed more than $1 million.

Nicholas Newton, 35, appeared in court early Tuesday morning on two counts of participating in organized criminal activity. His bond was set at $100,000 per charge, totaling $200,000, with conditions barring contact with co-defendants.

BACKGROUND: 200 unqualified teachers certified in $1 million Houston-based cheating program

Newton did one of the five people charged According to Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, there is a massive teacher certification fraud scheme that allegedly generated more than $1 million in fraudulent profits. The plan lasted several years and involved several education officials, including Newton.

Here are the suspects charged in the scheme:

Vincent Grayson57, 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 hoax.
Tywana Gilford Mason51, former director/VA certification officer of the Houston Training and Education Center. Mason’s role as test proctor allowed her to keep the proxy scheme undetected.
Nicholas Newton35, assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Newton is said to have participated in the program as a proxy test taker.
Darian Nikole Wilhite22, a proctor at TACTIX who allegedly took bribes to allow Newton to act as a test proxy.
LaShonda Roberts39, assistant principal at Yates High School in Houston ISD. Roberts is accused of recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the fraud scheme.

In addition, Newton, Grayson and Roberts have been fired, HISD confirmed in a statement.

Newton was assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD.

“All three of these employees have been arrested and will receive notices of removal from their duties effective immediately.”

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