Latest news with #Sinodinos
Sky News AU
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Are we fully ready?': Australia must be prepared for war to break out at any time
Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos says Australia must be 'ready' for a war to break out at any time. Mr Sinodinos told Sky News Australia that military readiness is the 'whole point' of having a defence force. 'The question would be at the moment, are we as fully ready as we should be?'
Sky News AU
10-08-2025
- Sky News AU
NYC principal's ‘illicit' affair with younger teacher exposed by scorned wife after helping lover get tenure: probe
The furious wife of a philandering Staten Island principal blew the whistle on her husband's affair with a younger teacher at his school, where he helped his lover win tenure, The Post has learned. Principal Anthony Cosentino, 43, engaged in a 'consensual sexual relationship' with the married staffer, Jacqueline Sinodinos, 28, the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools found in a newly released report accusing him of possibly violating the city's conflict-of-interest rules. The scandal broke up two marriages. Both Cosentino's wife and Sinodinos' husband filed for divorce. After receiving an SCI report on the alleged misconduct in July 2024, the city Department of Education removed Cosentino, 43, from PS 21 in North Shore. But he remained on the DOE payroll making $187,632 despite what SCI Anastasia Coleman called 'an absence of judgment and professionalism.' Coleman recommended 'strong discipline, up to and including termination' of Cosentino. Instead, he may get a new assignment as principal of another school in the borough, sources said. In March 2024, Cosentino's wife – a DOE teacher at another school – filed a complaint with SCI that her husband had carried on an 'illicit sexual relationship' with Sinodinos since June 2023, and given her extra school funds to spend on a Thanksgiving party and other festivities for her class. The DOE had already received a complaint in November 2023 that Cosentino was engaging in an extramarital affair with the teacher and giving her preferential treatment, the SCI says. It's unknown what, if anything, the DOE did about it. SCI received another complaint in February 2024, and launched its own probe. Romantic relationships between co-workers are not forbidden by the city Conflicts of Interest Board unless they involve a financial component, or when 'a superior has the power to affect … a person's employment, including the power to evaluate job performance, assign work, or approve leave requests.' Cosentino finally admitted his extramarital relationship to another DOE administrator, while insisting it involved no special considerations or financial favors. But SCI learned he gave Sinodinos 'highly favorable' reviews and and recommended her for tenure – a permanent job status with due-process rights and protection from firing. Teachers typically come up for tenure after four years. His confession came only after Sinodinos won tenure in January 2024. Another administrator who approved her tenure had 'suspicions of bias' by Cosentino – but found no evidence the teacher didn't deserve it, the SCI reports. Sinodinos made $77,771 in 2024. In other questionable conduct, Sinodinos tried to enroll her son in a 3-K program at PS 21, though the child was zoned for another Staten Island school. It's unclear whether PS 21 accepted him. Meanwhile, Sinodinos' husband filed for divorce in July 2024. Their split was finalized in June, court records show. Cosentino's wife sued for divorce in October. That breakup is pending. The turmoil comes as SCI completed another investigation which, sources said, found Cosentino 'negligent' for failing to adequately supervise the school's purchasing secretary, Michele Cenci, who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $145,000 from PS 21 coffers over seven years. Sinodinos, described as a friend of Cenci, had pumped Cosentino for information on that probe, the SCI said. Instead of terminating Cosentino, the DOE plans to assign him as principal of PS 3 The Margaret Gioiosa School in Elm Park, sources said. 'These documented failures in judgment and oversight raise a tremendous amount of concerns for the school community We don't understand how this individual could be cleared to run an elementary school or still manage to work under a license that should have been revoked,' an outraged PS 3 parent told The Post. 'Our students, the staff and families deserve a leader that exemplifies integrity and accountability for their actions. P.S. 3 deserves better and our leaders in District 31 should feel the same way.' DOE spokeswoman Chyann Tull said Cosentino 'is not currently assigned to P.S. 3,' where a retiring principal will be replaced. 'We take all allegations of this kind seriously, and always follow established protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of our school communities,' Tull said. Cosentino and Sinodinos did not reply to requests for comments. Both declined to be interviewed by investigators, 'citing their tenured status,' the SCI reported. Originally published as NYC principal's 'illicit' affair with younger teacher exposed by scorned wife after helping lover get tenure: probe
New York Post
10-08-2025
- New York Post
NYC principal Anthony Cosentino admits affair with teacher Jacqueline Sinodinos after helping her get tenure: probe
The furious wife of a philandering Staten Island principal blew the whistle on her husband's affair with a younger teacher at his school, where he helped his lover win tenure, The Post has learned. Principal Anthony Cosentino, 43, engaged in a 'consensual sexual relationship' with the married staffer, Jacqueline Sinodinos, 28, the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools found in a newly released report accusing him of possibly violating the city's conflict-of-interest rules. The scandal broke up two marriages. Both Cosentino's wife and Sinodinos' husband filed for divorce. 3 Principal Anthony Cosentino's extramarital affair with a younger teacher under his supervision showed 'an absence of judgment and professionalism,' the Special Commissioner of Investigation charged. P.S. 21 Margaret Emery Elm Park / Facebook After receiving an SCI report on the alleged misconduct in July 2024, the city Department of Education removed Cosentino, 43, from PS 21 in North Shore. But he remained on the DOE payroll making $187,632 despite what SCI Anastasia Coleman called 'an absence of judgment and professionalism.' Coleman recommended 'strong discipline, up to and including termination' of Cosentino. Instead, he is may get a new assignment as principal of another school in the borough, sources said. In March 2024, Cosentino's wife – a DOE teacher at another school – filed a complaint with SCI that her husband had carried on an 'illicit sexual relationship' with Sinodinos since June 2023, and given her extra school funds to spend on a Thanksgiving party and other festivities for her class. The DOE had already received a complaint in November 2023 that Cosentino was engaging in an extramarital affair with the teacher and giving her preferential treatment, the SCI says. It's unknown what, if anything, the DOE did about it. SCI received another complaint in February 2024, and launched its own probe. 3 Teacher Jacqueline Sinodinos won tenure while having an affair with Principal Cosentino, who recommended her. Jackie Sinodinos/ Facebook Romantic relationships between co-workers are not forbidden by the city Conflicts of Interest Board unless they involve a financial component, or when 'a superior has the power to affect … a person's employment, including the power to evaluate job performance, assign work, or approve leave requests.' Cosentino finally admitted his extramarital relationship to another DOE administrator, while insisting it involved no special considerations or financial favors. But SCI learned he gave Sinodinos 'highly favorable' reviews and and recommended her for tenure – a permanent job status with due-process rights and protection from firing. Teachers typically come up for tenure after four years. His confession came only after Sinodinos won tenure in January 2024. Another administrator who approved her tenure had 'suspicions of bias' by Cosentino – but found no evidence the teacher didn't deserve it, the SCI reports. Sinodinos made $77,771 in 2024. 3 Instead of facing termination, Cosentino may be transferred to become principal at another Staten Island school. Leonardo Munoz In other questionable conduct, Sinodinos tried to enroll her son in a 3-K program at PS 21, though the child was zoned for another Staten Island school. It's unclear whether PS 21 accepted him. Meanwhile, Sinodinos' husband filed for divorce in July 2024. Their split was finalized in June, court records show. Cosentino's wife sued for divorce in October. That breakup is pending. The turmoil comes as SCI completed another investigation which, sources said, found Cosentino 'negligent' for failing to adequately supervise the school's purchasing secretary, Michele Cenci, who pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $145,000 from PS 21 coffers over seven years. Sinodinos, described as a friend of Cenci, had pumped Cosentino for information on that probe, the SCI said. Instead of terminating Cosentino, the DOE plans to assign him as principal of PS 3 The Margaret Gioiosa School in Elm Park, sources said. 'These documented failures in judgment and oversight raise a tremendous amount of concerns for the school community We don't understand how this individual could be cleared to run an elementary school or still manage to work under a license that should have been revoked,' an outraged PS 3 parent told The Post. 'Our students, the staff and families deserve a leader that exemplifies integrity and accountability for their actions. P.S. 3 deserves better and our leaders in District 31 should feel the same way.' DOE spokeswoman Chyann Tull said Cosentino 'is not currently assigned to P.S. 3,' where a retiring principal will be replaced. 'We take all allegations of this kind seriously, and always follow established protocols to ensure the safety and well-being of our school communities,' Tull said. Cosentino and Sinodinos did not reply to requests for comments. Both declined to be interviewed by investigators, 'citing their tenured status,' the SCI reported.
Sky News AU
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Most dangerous moment': Trump's decision on the Middle East will shape history
Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos characterises the situation in the Middle East as 'bigger than the invasion of Iraq'. 'This is one of the most dangerous moments post the end of the Cold War,' Mr Sinodinos told Sky News Australia. 'The reality is that this is existential for Israel as they see it, and it's existential for the regime in Tehran. 'The president's [Trump] decisions over the next few hours could be extremely significant in a historic sense.'
Sky News AU
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Disappointing' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was not able to meet with Trump
Former Australian ambassador to the US Arthur Sinodinos says it is 'important' for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to ensure he meets with US President Donald Trump. Mr Sinodinos says it is 'disappointing" Prime Minister Albanese did not get to meet President Trump, but claims it is 'not a reflection on the overall strength of the relationship between Australia and the US'. 'It's important that the Prime Minister eyeballs the president and takes him through our arguments as to why, as a special partner of the United States … we deserve better treatments on tariffs, and for him to understand why AUKUS is important,' Mr Sinodinos told Sky News Australia.
