School Principal Caught in Affair and Scandal

The wife of a Staten Island school principal exposed her husband’s extramarital relationship with a younger teacher, which led to controversy over his oversight of her tenure approval. The Special Commissioner of Investigation revealed that Principal Anthony Cosentino, 43, engaged in a consensual affair with Jacqueline Sinodinos, 28, a staffer at his school. The investigation indicated he possibly violated conflict-of-interest rules by allegedly giving her favorable reviews and recommending her for tenure, despite their relationship.

Following reports of misconduct in July 2024, the Department of Education reassigned Cosentino from PS 21 but continued paying his salary of $187,632. He has not been terminated, and some suggest he may be transferred to lead another school. Meanwhile, both Cosentino’s wife and Sinodinos’ husband filed for divorce after the scandal surfaced.

The investigation also uncovered other questionable behavior, including Sinodinos attempting to enroll her son in a different school’s program despite zoning rules, and Cosentino’s failure to supervise the school’s purchasing secretary, who embezzled over $145,000. Sinodinos reportedly sought information about this probe from Cosentino.

The relationship between Cosentino and Sinodinos, which began around June 2023, was reportedly known at the school. Cosentino admitted to his affair but claimed it involved no special favors or financial benefits. However, he was found to have provided her with highly favorable evaluations and supported her tenure in January 2024. An administrator who approved her tenure noted suspicions of bias but found no evidence to deny it.

Instead of firing him, the DOE plans to assign Cosentino as principal of P.S. 3 in Elm Park. Parents expressed concern over his judgment and management, emphasizing the need for leaders with integrity. The DOE stated that Cosentino is not currently assigned to P.S. 3 and emphasized their protocols for handling such allegations. Both Cosentino and Sinodinos declined interviews, citing their tenured status.