State identifies more teachers from North Texas districts in certification investigation
The Texas Education Agency has identified more teachers under investigation in a scheme to cheat on their certification exams.
The Texas Education Agency reported this week that there are now 160 teachers under investigation for paying another person to take their certification tests.
Some of the teachers are from North Texas school districts, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Crowley and Mansfield.
A TEA spokesperson said in an email to the Star-Telegram that all districts have been notified and that the teachers may no longer be employed by the school districts. The TEA identified nine teachers from the Fort Worth school district.
A spokesperson from the Fort Worth school district wrote in an email, “The District takes this matter seriously, is cooperating fully with TEA, and will continue to do so.” to address this issue thoroughly.”
The Arlington school district did not return a voicemail and email seeking comment. The TEA found five teachers in Arlington who allegedly took part in the certification scheme.
Last fall, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that a Harris County grand jury indicted five people who were allegedly involved in a scheme to help people cheat on their teacher certification exams.
The candidates would pay someone to complete the certification exams on their behalf. The teacher candidates entered a testing facility, gave a willing employee their IDs and left while the person took their exams. This led to unqualified employees, according to the investigation.
TEA list
Here is the updated list from the TEA. The agency said the corresponding district represents the last known district of employment. However, this does not mean the educator is still employed with that specific district.
Arlington
- Shayla Bragg
- Money Martin
- Nia Roberts
- Nicholas Smith
- Jordan Versey
Crowley
- Dnarius Green
- Janesha Haliburton
- Crystal Oneal
Eagle Mt-Saginaw ISD
- Dayon Mallet
Everman
- Brandon Bennett
- Caleb Hendrix
Fort Worth
- Destiny Bowman-Smith
- TyQuandrik Conner
- Hanna Hogan
- Kashae Johnson
- Yancy O’Neal
- Edmund Pringle
- Dominique Reagor
- Sheba Regan-Waterford
- Reuben Vaughn
Granbury
- Donald Mitchell
Mansfield
- Shameika Osborne