Deandra Kontou, 32, was charged last week with nine offences over an alleged six-month period. The charges include exposing the teenage boy to indecent material, grooming through online messages, coercing him into a sex act without consent, and twice sexually touching him. Most of the alleged offences occurred during school hours at the college's Stanmore campus, where Kontou taught under her maiden name, Haralambidis.
The alleged abuse continued during a senior camp to Fitzroy Island on the Great Barrier Reef, where Kontou is accused of sexually touching the student twice during the day before sexually assaulting him between 10pm and 11pm. Because she was the boy's teacher, most of the offences are aggravated.
The student shared the allegation with another teacher on the tour, prompting Kontou's immediate separation from the travelling party. She was later suspended by senior college staff and resigned when offered the opportunity to explain her alleged conduct. Kontou had taught at the school for two years and left mid-term.
Newington referred the matter to NSW Police and the Office of the Children's Guardian, which manages working with children checks. Detectives investigated shortly after the alleged abuse occurred but only brought charges after restarting the investigation last year.