Published: | Updated:
Details have come to light about an interstate trip a former Newington College teacher took with a boy before allegedly raping him, as she is banned from stepping foot on any school campus.
uncertain
she → publish → campus
Deandra Kontou, 32, was arrested last week following allegations she sexually assaulted and groomed a student in her care, with the child under 16 at the time of the alleged offending.
asserted
child → arrest → offending
Kontou, who taught geography at the all-boys school for two years before leaving in 2019, was charged with nine sex offences following a lengthy investigation by police.
asserted
who → teach → police
Court documents seen by the Daily Mail allege that Kontou's alleged offending spanned a six-month period in 2019, with the majority of the allegations occurring during school hours at the Stanmore campus.
asserted
majority → see → campus
Police allege that on May 1, 2019, Kontou groomed her student between 9am and 3pm, exposing him to indecent material with the intention of making it easier to procure him for sexual activity.
uncertain
it → allege → activity
Police documents alleged Kontou then used a carriage service to continue grooming the victim for unlawful sexual activity until September 27, 2019.
asserted
Kontou → allege → September
During the same period, Kontou is accused of inciting the victim to carry out a sexual act with her without his consent, and inciting him to sexually touch her without his consent.
asserted
Kontou → accuse → consent
She is also accused of sexually touching the boy without his consent during the six-month period.
asserted
She → accuse → period
Deandra Kontou, 32, was arrested after allegedly raping and grooming a student in her care.
uncertain
Kontou → arrest → care
(She is pictured at a pre-wedding celebration in April 2017)
asserted
She → picture → April
The Newington College geography teacher allegedly assaulted one of her students, who was under the age of 16
uncertain
who → assault → 16
According to court documents, Kontou is accused of raping the student during a trip to Fitzroy Island.
uncertain
Kontou → accord → Island
(She is pictured on a separate 2018 school trip to the Far North Queensland island)
asserted
She → picture → island
She also faces an aggravated charge for the same offence, relating to an alleged incident at the Stanmore campus on September 27.
asserted
She → face → September
Kontou's alleged offending culminated during a trip with the student to Fitzroy Island in November 2019, where she is accused of sexually touching him in the day, before raping him as night fell.
asserted
night → culminate → him
Police allege Kontou had sexual intercourse with the boy between the hours of 10pm and 11pm on November 3, without his consent and knowing he was not consenting.
asserted
he → allege → consent
While no trace of Kontou's visit to Fitzroy Island in 2019 can be seen online, a post from the school's trip to the Far North Queensland island from the year prior remains online.
asserted
post → see → island
'The boys of Newington College participated in a whirlwind tour of Far North Queensland that included the Daintree Rainforest Observatory and research station, Fitzroy Island and the outer Great Barrier Reef,' a post from a local educational group read.
asserted
post → participate → group
They surveyed corals and a revegetation plot in the rainforest, debated a local environmental issue and attended presentations on sustainability and the Wet Tropics Heritage area.
asserted
They → survey → sustainability
Kontou was granted conditional bail last week to return to her home in Sydney's south, where she remains employed at Georges River College Senior Campus, a public school.
asserted
she → grant → Campus
Despite the serious allegations, she is still on the public payroll and was understood to be undertaking 'alternative duties' while banned from teaching children under her bail conditions.
asserted
she → understand → conditions
Kontou in a staff school photo taken this year at Georges River College Senior Campus
She remains on the public payroll having been suspended from teaching duties at Georges River College Senior Campus
When asked by the Daily Mail what those alternative duties involved, both the NSW Department of Education and Georges River College Senior Campus failed to comment.
asserted
Department → take → Education
The Daily Mail understands that Kontou, who taught society and culture, history, and geography at the co-ed school, was still in classrooms as recently as last week, with the school forced to remove her once learning of NSW Police's plan to charge her.
asserted
school → understand → her
Last night, Georges River College Senior Campus Principal Anna Girginis wrote to parents: 'As you may be aware, a college staff member was recently charged with child sex offences.'
'These offences do not relate to the staff member's work at Georges River College, Oatley Campus, or in the NSW public education system.'
Ms Girginis reassured parents that Kontou is not currently working at the school.
uncertain
Kontou → write → school
Indeed, under her bail conditions, Kontou is also banned from entering the grounds of any school and from going near any children.
asserted
Kontou → ban → children
She must also report weekly to Sutherland police station and surrender her passport.
asserted
She → report → passport
She is due to face Burwood Local Court on November 25 where a brief of evidence is expected to be served.
asserted
brief → face → evidence
As part of her bail conditions, she must report to police weekly and is banned from entering any school or taking any teaching jobs that require contact with children
It comes days after the acting deputy head of Newington College's Stanmore campus, Mark Morrison, wrote to parents about the 'distressing news' of the allegations facing Kontou.
asserted
head → report → Kontou
'Please know that our thoughts first and foremost are with the [alleged] victim, survivor and their family,' Mr Morrison said in the letter.
asserted
Morrison → know → letter
'I acknowledge that this news may land differently for you depending on your personal circumstances and tenure at the College.
uncertain
news → acknowledge → College
We did feel it was important that you heard from the College and if you have any concerns, please contact me.'
asserted
you → feel → me
Kontou, who went by her maiden name Haralambidis while teaching at Newington, was newly married when she took up the job in late 2017.
asserted
she → go → 2017
Just months earlier, Kontou, who was known by the nickname 'Miss Dee', was commended by her personal trainer for maintaining her routine while balancing 'a busy work life as a school teacher and after-hours tutor'.
asserted
who → know → hours
When the Daily Mail attempted to reach family members for comment on Tuesday, some denied any relation to Deandra.
asserted
some → attempt → Deandra
A woman who identified herself as the accused's sister-in-law - the sister of her husband George - said, 'I would prefer you not to stalk my [Facebook] account.
asserted
you → identify → account
I've got no further comment,' before hanging up.
asserted
I → get → comment
Responding to questions from the Daily Mail, a NSW Department of Education spokesperson said: 'These are serious allegations and the department's priority is the safety and wellbeing of students.
asserted
priority → respond → students
The department continues to work closely with NSW Police.'
asserted
department → continue → Police
Do you know more?
asserted
you → know → more
Email tips@dailymail.com.au
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
asserted
we → email → article