An art teacher from Long Island is facing scrutiny after allegedly engaging in “sexting” with a student, which has left other female students feeling uneasy, according to sources.
John Kennedy, 52, who teaches at Bayshore High School and is often referred to as a “favorite teacher,” reportedly made two female students uncomfortable with his physical interactions and behavior, prompting an investigation by Suffolk police last week.
“He seemed like a funny, nice guy at first, but then he started doing odd things,” one student shared with her parents’ permission, mentioning multiple instances that left her feeling uncomfortable.
The student continued, “One time, he came up behind me, put his arm around my shoulders, and hugged me from behind. I just froze.”
Another student mentioned to her parents last year that she didn’t want to complete an art project in Kennedy’s classroom after school and purposely wore headphones to avoid conversation.
The mother of the second student expressed concerns to the Post, stating that she thought Mr. Kennedy was “flirting” with students and that her daughter felt “creepy” during his interactions. Although she had not reported the behavior to the school, she did reach out to Suffolk police but had yet to speak with any detectives as of Monday.
Kennedy, who has been on administrative leave since last week amidst the ongoing investigation of suspected child abuse, has not responded to requests for comment. A letter from Special Victims Unit detectives to parents indicated that the investigation was initiated based on a report from a student at the school regarding alleged child abuse by a teacher.
The school intends to send out communication to all parents after initially notifying those in Mr. Kennedy’s class. It was noted that none of the interviewed students received the explicit messages allegedly sent by him, which triggered the police inquiry.
The Bayshore School District stated that they are aware of the allegations and took swift action by placing Kennedy on leave and banning him from school property. Superintendent Dr. Stephen Maloney reinforced the district’s commitment to cooperating fully with law enforcement during the investigation, emphasizing the importance of safety and trust within the school community.
Prior to teaching high school art, Kennedy worked with younger children, teaching kindergarten through second grade at the Brook Avenue Elementary School in the district.
