A scandal has engulfed PS 21 on Staten Island, where Principal Anthony Cosentino, 43, acknowledged an extramarital relationship with 28-year-old teacher Jacqueline Sinodinos. The affair, which began in mid-2023, triggered an official probe after being exposed by Cosentino’s wife, also a Department of Education educator.
Investigators found troubling overlaps: Cosentino had provided Sinodinos with glowing evaluations and was instrumental in securing her tenure. Despite recommendations from the Special Commissioner of Investigation to fire him, Cosentino was simply removed from PS 21, continued to earn his $187,632 salary, and may be reassigned elsewhere.
The fallout didn’t stop at the affair. The probe also revealed Cosentino’s failure to oversee a purchasing secretary who embezzled over $145,000 from school funds—while Sinodinos reportedly sought details about that investigation. The community’s trust has been shaken, with parents demanding accountability and questioning how an administrator with documented ethical lapses can remain in the school system.