HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A day after the alleged teacher certification scandal was announced in Houston, all of the accused suspects made their first court appearance Tuesday.

We continue to learn more about what was revealed as the Harris County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that a statewide scheme was concocted to give hundreds of salaried teachers a pass on their certification.

We still don’t know how many Houston Independent School District School teachers were among the more than 200 teachers who took advantage of this scandal and paid $2,500 to become certified.

RELATING TO: Bail set at $200,000 for 2 of 5 suspects accused in teacher certificate cheating scandal

The Texas Education Agency does not provide a list of teachers connected to the case, citing the investigation.

The DA’s office says five people are facing charges in connection with this teacher certificate cheating scandal.

Among them are three HISD employees who were dismissed. HISD confirmed Monday that those employees will remain on paid leave for the remainder of the trial.

One of them involves the man who is considered the mastermind behind the plan.

Vincent Grayson, 57, is the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School. Grayson is accused of bribing employees at testing sites and two HISD assistant principals to help him carry out the four-year plan.

“Between May 2020 and February 2024, you allegedly charged teachers $2,500 to arrange for teachers seeking certification to check in at the testing site, and that teacher would leave and someone else would take the certification exam,” a hearing officer said. he said. Harris County probable cause court.

An officer set his bail at $300,000.

Former Booker T. Washington Deputy Director Nicholas Newton also appeared in court Tuesday.

“This defendant was the agent who performed the tests on behalf of the participants,” a hearing officer told the court.

His bond was set at $200,000. He is accused of taking more than 400 tests to help teachers across the state pass their certification.

A judge also set bail at $200,000 for former Yates High School assistant principal LaShonda Roberts, who is accused of recruiting dozens of teachers to join a cheating ring.

Roberts was not present at the probable cause court; but his lawyer appeared for him.

“My client is no longer working, so his financial ability will be severely limited,” Rpberts’ lawyer said.

RELATING TO: Five people charged in teacher certification cheating scandal, Harris County District Attorney says

“This is completely unacceptable,” Alexandra Elizondo of HISD Communications said Monday after news of the scandal broke.

This is an investigation being conducted by HISD, which the district claims to have had no idea about until just before the arrests.

HISD announced that it was investigating the situation and would terminate the employment of teachers who received certification through this fraud.

TEA will not say where these teachers are or continue to teach.

SEE ALSO: 13 Investigates: Uncertified teachers at HISD more than doubled this year

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