Teacher charged with grooming, sexually assaulting student

Deandra Kontou, a 32-year-old teacher at Newington College in Sydney, was charged with nine offenses including rape and sexual touching of a student during a school trip to the Great Barrier Reef. The alleged abuse began in September and continued through February, mostly occurring on school premises in Stanmore. After another teacher reported the incident, Kontou was removed from the tour and later suspended by college officials before resigning. Meanwhile, at Methodist Ladies' College (MLC) in Melbourne, a teacher named Kam Kenny-Jones has been charged with one count of sexual assault against a student. The school immediately suspended Kenny-Jones upon learning of concerns in September and terminated his employment shortly after. Both incidents have sparked parent concerns about staff screening and student safety procedures at these prestigious schools.