HOUSTON, Texas – Jack Yates High School Assistant Principal who attended multi-million dollar teacher certification scheme appeared in court Monday night after the Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced her arrest.

Among other five, LaShonda Roberts he was arrested, charged and accused of participating in the teacher certification scheme that allowed unqualified teachers to work in local school districts.

Roberts, who has since been charged with two counts of engaging in organized criminal activitydid not appear in person before the judge on Monday night; instead, her lawyer represented her in court. Her bond was set at $100,000 on each count, $200,000 total. According to the judge, if he posts bond, he will not be able to have contact with any of the other four people charged in the scheme.

Roberts’ attorney asked the judge for a $1,000 bond in each case, saying his client is not a risk to the community and has not committed a violent crime. He also claimed that since his client lost her job, she is facing financial struggles. In the end, the judge rejected his request.

What happened

During a press conference Monday, District Attorney Ogg announced that from May 2020 to February 2024, Roberts along with four other forged credentials to secure teaching positions for individuals who have not met the certification requirements.

According to court documents, an estimated 430 tests were administered fraudulently, and more than 210 unqualified teachers were certified as now practicing or practicing at Texas public schools and districts across the state.

The scandal occurred not only in HISD, but also in several school districts in the Houston area.

Here are the suspects who participated in the scheme:

• Vincent Grayson57, the head boys basketball coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD for almost 20 years. Grayson was charged as the mastermind of the cheating scheme.

• Tywana Gilford Mason51, former VA Director/Certifying Officer at Houston Training and Education Center. Mason’s role as test supervisor allowed him to keep the proxy scheme undetected.

• Nicholas Newton35, assistant principal at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston ISD. Newton is alleged to have participated in the scheme as a proxy testator.

• Darian Nicole Wilhite22, a supervisor at TACTIX who allegedly took bribes to allow Newton to act as a test proxy.

• LaShonda Roberts39 years old, assistant principal at Yates High School in Houston ISD. Roberts is charged with recruiting nearly 100 teachers to participate in the cheating scheme.