HOUSTON, Texas — A year and a half after coach Vincent Grayson led Booker T. Washington High School’s boys’ basketball team to its first state championship appearance, he appeared in court for the first time on charges related to a massive teacher certification cheating scheme.
Prosecutors called Grayson the “kingpin.”
"It’s estimated that 201 teachers have fraudulent certifications and that you received over one million dollars during this scheme,” the clerk said during Grayson's probable cause court hearing.
Grayson allegedly charged teachers seeking certifications $2,500 a pop to check in at testing centers while another person took the tests.
Booker T. Washington assistant principal Nicholas Newton was allegedly one of those proxy test-takers while Yates High School assistant principal LaShonda Roberts is charged with recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate.
Roberts' attorney, who got her bond reduced on Tuesday, said she was arrested while at work.
“I’d just like to remind everyone that my client is innocent until proven guilty and we look forward to hearing more about the state’s evidence,” attorney Brandon Leonard said.
Meanwhile, the scandal has many in the HISD community and beyond reacting.
"Anybody who takes a route other than what’s legal or ethical, it’s very disappointing,” Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson said.
She said she hopes it doesn’t sully the reputations of legitimately certified teachers.
"Because we have thousands of teachers who put in the time for study, who put in the work for the assessments, and they pass,” Anderson said.
Grayson’s bond, which was initially set at a combined $300,000, is now $100,000.
He and the two assistant principals are due back in court on Friday.
Meanwhile, two others tied to the scandal who have been charged are not yet in custody.
HISD said that teachers found to have cheated on their certification tests will be terminated.