Bay Shore High School art teacher John Kennedy pleads not guilty to stalking former student
A Bay Shore High School art teacher was arrested and charged Thursday for allegedly stalking a former student, now 18, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Credit: Paul Mazza
A Bay Shore High School art teacher pleaded not guilty Friday to stalking a former student with whom he is alleged to have been sexually involved, authorities said.
John Kennedy, 53, of St. James, was arraigned in Suffolk County First District Court in Central Islip on a misdemeanor charge of stalking. A temporary order of protection was issued, and he is due back in court on Sept. 16, according to online court documents.
Kennedy is accused of trailing the former student, who is 18, from her home Thursday morning to a location in Selden. He was arrested later that afternoon after she called 911, according to Suffolk police.
The teacher is also accused of driving by the teen's home several times since Aug. 11 and is alleged to have followed her to her "place of education," according to a criminal complaint. Kennedy was allegedly told to "leave the victim alone," and his behavior caused her to fear for "her physical health and safety," according to the complaint.
Police said Kennedy had a "sexual relationship" with the alleged victim last year, when she was a 17-year-old Bay Shore High School senior.
Kennedy's attorney, Karl Seman, disputed the allegations, saying his client was parked on a public street and left after he was told the teen didn't want to speak to him.
Lawsuit filed
Kennedy is also at the heart of a lawsuit filed anonymously by a former Bay Shore High School student who alleges the district failed to protect her from his predatory behavior and sexual abuse. It's unclear whether the former student suing the district is the same one he is accused of stalking.
According to the lawsuit, Kennedy is alleged to have sexually abused the female student in his classroom in 2025, when she was 17. The student's mother complained to officials around September 2025, according to the suit.
District officials have said they learned of the allegations in October 2025 and immediately notified police and placed Kennedy on administrative leave. He is prohibited from stepping foot on district property.
A Suffolk County police spokesperson has previously said that an investigation into the matter determined it to be noncriminal. The spokesperson did not say why the case was closed. In New York, the age of consent is 17.
Andrew Silvershein, the attorney representing the former student in the civil case, declined to comment on Kennedy's arrest.
In a statement, Bay Shore Superintendent Steven J. Maloney said the alleged stalking did not take place on school property.
"As this is a law enforcement matter, the district is not able to provide further information," Maloney said.
Lorena Mongelli has been reporting for Newsday since 2021. Prior to that, she covered breaking news at the New York Post.
