A Fort Lauderdale woman is accused of turning Florida’s teacher-certification exams into a $1,000-a-pop side business, and investigators say the stunt may have slipped unqualified people into the state’s classrooms. She was arrested June 11 following a multi-county probe that dates back to 2024, according to state officials.
Kashaundra Knowles, 37, is accused of running what prosecutors describe as a sophisticated proxy-testing operation. She faces counts including organized scheme to defraud, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and money laundering, and could face up to 15 years in prison, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Attorney General James Uthmeier said the scheme "undermines the very foundation of our education system" and promised to hold accountable anyone who profits from cheating.
How Investigators Say The Scam Operated
Statewide prosecutors said Knowles allegedly advertised her services on Facebook and Instagram, recruiting would-be teachers who wanted a shortcut through the state testing system. According to officials, she charged roughly $1,000 per exam and then showed up at testing centers using other people’s driver’s licenses and an array of disguises, including hair, clothing and makeup, to impersonate the real candidates.
In one reported incident, Knowles allegedly dressed as a man to sit for an elementary-education exam, per CBS12. Officials said they have identified eight or nine people statewide who may have had exams taken for them, and that the investigation is still very much active.
Biometrics, Red Flags And The Break In The Case
The probe widened after Pearson VUE Special Investigations flagged a December 6, 2024 nursing exam when the check-in photo did not match the registered candidate. From there, palm-vein biometric analysis, check-in photographs, phone records and surveillance footage were used to connect Knowles to multiple Florida Teacher Certification Examination proxy attempts, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Investigators say Knowles had previously taken a legitimate FTCE in 2018. That earlier exam provided the biometric baseline that allowed investigators to match her palm-vein template to tests allegedly taken under other people’s names.
Charges, Prosecution And Possible Prison Time
Prosecutors arrested Knowles on counts that include organized scheme to defraud, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and money laundering. If she is convicted on the charges, she could face up to 15 years in prison.
The case will be prosecuted in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit by an assistant statewide prosecutor. Officials said they expect additional arrests as they track who allegedly paid for or otherwise participated in the scheme.
What It Could Mean For Classrooms And Careers
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas said the state’s certification system depends on public trust, and warned that any educators who obtained credentials through cheating will be investigated. Those individuals could be denied certification or referred to the Education Practices Commission, according to CBS12.
The Education Practices Commission has the power to suspend or revoke educator certificates and impose discipline, per the Florida Department of Education. Officials are urging anyone with information to come forward, noting that the probe, which already spans multiple counties, could grow as investigators comb through records and communications.
For now, authorities say they plan to keep pursuing others they believe were involved and to seek accountability in every case where exam fraud is uncovered.
