Hundreds Of People, Including Sexual Predators, Falsely Certified As Teachers In Texas

Five people have been charged with running a teacher certification scheme that resulted in hundreds of people being falsely certified to teach in Texas. According to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the five people arrested were employed by Houston Independent School District.

According to a report from USA Today, the Harris County District Attorney, Kim Ogg, announced that the five had been charged with two counts each of engaging in organized crime. The first and third degree felony charges carries a range in sentencing from two years to life in prison.

USA Today reported that more than 200 unqualified teachers had been certified through this illegal activity. All of them are either still teaching in Texas or were teaching in Texas at some point. The DA told reporters that the scheme goes back to at least May of 2020, but that is as far back as her office can go. Ogg told reporters that the "extent of the scheme will never be fully known."

USA Today also reported that at least two of the teachers falsely certified were "sexual predators".

Of the teachers who were falsely certified, at least two of them were "sexual predators" who gained access to underage children on and off campus through their employment within the school system, according to Ogg. One of the teachers has been charged with indecency with a child, while the other was charged for online solicitation, the DA said.

The Scheme

So how did this work? According to USA Today, a teacher "impersonator" would take the certification exam in front of a "corrupt testing proctor". When finished with the exam, the impersonator would turn in the exam using the real applicants name. The applicants paid around $2,500 for the scheme.

If it hadn't been for a former coach who was applying to be a police officer who reportedly had an "attack of conscience" and came forward, the illegal activity would still be happening.