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The principal of the southern Sydney school where Deandra Kontou worked until she was charged over the alleged rape of a Newington student last week is encouraging students to seek counselling and contact professional hotlines while their former teacher confronts a string of child abuse offences.
Kontou, charged with nine offences against the Newington student, had for the past two years worked at Georges River College Oatley Senior Campus as police investigated the alleged attack that triggered her abrupt dismissal from the prestigious Sydney private school in 2019.
The 32-year-old remains on the payroll of the Education Department and has been placed on “alternative duties” while banned from teaching children under her bail conditions. Police said the Newington student was under 16 at the time of the alleged abuse, and have brought charges of grooming, sexual assault and sexual touching against Kontou. She is not accused of criminal wrongdoing while at the Oatley school.
Georges River College Senior Campus Principal Anna Girginis wrote to parents on Wednesday, a week after Kontou was granted bail in Sutherland Local Court, to share information about a “matter of concern for our school community”.
“As you may be aware, a college staff member was recently charged with child sex offences,” Girginis wrote.
“Student care and wellbeing are our highest priorities. If you are concerned regarding the impact of this matter and wish for your child to access counselling, please contact the college to arrange this when classes resume.”
The Oatley school community has been in shock since the charges against Kontou were reported by media on Monday.
One parent, whose daughter was taught society and culture by Kontou, petitioned Girginis for answers about Kontou’s employment on Tuesday, telling the principal she was “deeply concerned” the Sutherland woman was allowed direct contact with students while she was being investigated for child abuse offences.
“I believe parents are entitled to understand how student welfare and safety have been protected in this situation,” the parent wrote to the principal.
Girginis didn’t address in the letter whether the school was aware of the police investigation when Kontou was hired or during the course of her employment. Kontou was removed from the school as detectives prepared the charges against her, and the NSW Education Standards Authority has revoked her accreditation.
Kontou was dismissed from Newington in November 2019, shortly after allegations against her were conveyed to college staff. She also led a year 7 mentorship group while at the Stanmore college, where she went by her maiden name Haralambidis.
Kontou was granted conditional bail in Sutherland Local Court last Wednesday to return to her home in Sydney’s southern suburbs. She is banned from entering schools or undertaking teaching jobs that require contact with children, contacting the alleged victim and any prosecuting witnesses, or being in the company of a child without another adult present.
Kontou is required to report to Sutherland Police Station weekly, surrender her passport and not enter an international point of departure from Australia. She will next appear at Burwood Local Court on November 25.
There are about 2000 students across Newington College’s Stanmore and Lindfield campuses. The school, founded in 1863, started accepting girls into its classrooms this year following a highly contentious decision that led to courtroom showdowns and a broader culture war over the merits of all-boy schools and toxic masculinity.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.From our partners
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