NSW teacher remains on department payroll after child sex offence charges
A former Newington College teacher, Deandra Kontou, has been charged with nine alleged sexual offences involving a student she taught; police believe the student was under 16 at the time. The case has prompted attention because Kontou is reportedly still employed and being paid by New South Wales’ Department of Education while on bail, though she has been removed from teaching duties.
Kontou, 32, taught at Newington until 2019 and later worked at Georges River College Senior Campus, where she was teaching when arrested; the reported charges do not relate to that school. Her bail conditions include weekly police reporting and a ban on entering schools or taking teaching work involving contact with children. She is due at Burwood Local Court on 25 November, and Newington’s acting deputy head has written to parents acknowledging the distressing news and expressing support for the alleged victim and family.
- Former teacher charged with nine alleged child sex offences.
- She remains on the education department payroll on alternative duties.
- Bail bars her from schools and child-contact teaching work.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The presumption of innocence and employment law principles ought to apply even in grave circumstances. Ms Kontou has been charged, not convicted; maintaining her salary whilst bail conditions and the courts process her case respects her legal rights and avoids inflicting financial ruin on someone who may ultimately be exonerated. The bail conditions already prevent her from working with children, adequately protecting the public. Dismissing an employee before trial sets a dangerous precedent that accusations alone justify termination, undermining due process protections that exist to prevent injustice.
The case against
The seriousness of child sexual offence charges creates a distinct duty for public institutions to demonstrate that they take safeguarding children with utmost gravity. Continuing to pay someone accused of such offences—whilst the victim and community are left distressed—risks appearing to trivialise the allegations and eroding public confidence in the education system's commitment to protecting vulnerable young people. The bail conditions address direct contact risk, but maintaining the employment relationship sends a signal about institutional priorities that may deter victims from coming forward and damage staff and community trust in the department's values.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Aussie teacher accused of raping and grooming student still being paid by Education Department after arrest”.