A Bay Shore High School art teacher was arrested Thursday for allegedly stalking a former student that he had a sexual affair with previously.

John Kennedy, 53, an art teacher at the school, allegedly followed the 18-year-old former student from her house to Selden on Thursday morning, according to the Suffolk County Police Department. Police were called at about 10:40 a.m., and Kennedy was arrested at his home on Moriches Road in St. James at 4:10 p.m.

An investigation determined that Kennedy had a sexual relationship with the former student last year when she was a 17-year-old senior at the high school. According to police, Kennedy was seen driving by the victim's house multiple times over the past several weeks.

In a statement to News 12, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven J. Maloney said: "This evening, we were informed by the Suffolk County Police Department that an employee of the Bay Shore School District was arrested today. We have also been informed that the incidents did not occur on District property. This employee has been on administrative leave and barred from District property since October 2025. As this is a law enforcement matter, the District is not able to provide further information."

Kennedy was charged with stalking and will be held overnight at the Sixth Precinct. He is expected to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.

Detectives are asking anyone with information or who believes they were a victim of Kennedy to call the Sixth Precinct Crime Unit at 631-854-8626.