A high school art teacher on Long Island has been arrested after stalking a former student who police say he previously had a sexual relationship with, according to police. John Kennedy, a teacher at Bay Shore High School, was arrested after the 18-year-old former student noticed him following he r from her house to Selden Thursday morning, according to Suffolk County police. An investigation found that the 53-year-old Kennedy had a sexual relationship with the teen in 2025 when she was a 17-year-old senior at the high school. The teen currently is a student at Suffolk Community College, and according to court documents, Kennedy followed here there multiple times over the course of the past month. In one instance, he tried talking with her after being asked to leave her alone. “He repeatedly followed this girl to the point where she felt very uncomfortable and contacted law enforcement,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. Suffolk County police also allege Kennedy was seen driving by the victim’s house multiple times. Kennedy was charged with fourth-degree stalking, a charge his lawyer denies. “He was in a public place, drove his car and parked it, trying to have a conversation with someone he’s known and again never being advised that was not authorized,” said Kennedy’s lawyer Kevin Seman, adding that there is no proof of any sexual relationship between the two. “At the end of this case do not be surprised if the evidence shows some of this was invited contact,” Seman said. Bay Shore Schools released a statement saying that Kennedy has been on administrative leave and barred from district property since Oct. 2025 — when an anonymous student filed a civil lawsuit against the school district claiming the art teacher had sexually abused her. It was not clear if the teen who filed the lawsuit is the same one Kennedy has been charged with stalking. Another recent graduate of Bay Shore High School said she wasn’t totally surprised by the stalking allegations. “I was on a field trip for art with him and a couple of other teachers and he gave me a real weird vibe, made me feel uncomfortable,” said Adrianna Cinque. Kennedy left court on Friday free without bail, but was ordered by the judge to stay away from the teen he’s charged with stalking. He is due back in court later in September. ...read more read less