Bay Shore art teacher pleads not guilty to stalking former student

And we're learning new information about the Bayshore teacher accused of stalking a former student. Police say the two had a prior relationship when the victim was a high school student. News 12's Logan Crawford has the details. An art teacher at Bayshore High School pleaded not guilty to stalking a former student. Prosecutors say 53-year-old John Kennedy drove by her home multiple times, even following her in his car. Police say the two had a relationship last year when the student was a 17-year-old senior at the high school. Parents in the area say they're disappointed about the allegations. Both of my children graduated from Bayshore High School. It's a great school. They're doing very well professionally now. It's very sad to hear. Police say they arrested Kennedy Thursday after he allegedly followed the 18-year-old from her Bayshore home to Selden. According to court documents, Kennedy stalked a former student on multiple occasions between August 11th and September 3rd. He repeatedly, you know, followed this girl to the point where it made her very uncomfortable and she contacted law enforcement. We investigated the case and we made the arrest. The Bayshore superintendent says Kennedy has been on administrative leave and barred from district property since October 2025. The high school teacher is also accused of following the victim to Selden, where she attends Suffolk County Community College. It's alleged he approached her there after being asked to leave her alone. Allegation is he was in a public place and drove his car and parked it to try to have a conversation. As News 12 reported, a former Bayshore High School student is also suing the school, alleging the district failed to protect her against sexual abuse at the hands of Kennedy. The judge released him Friday morning and issued a stay-away order of protection. Logan Crawford, News 12. Now the police commissioner says the stalking allegations are separate from the lawsuit against the school and the student is not suing Kennedy.