Former Bay Shore art teacher sued over alleged classroom sexual abuse
A former student has filed a lawsuit claiming a Bay Shore High School art teacher sexually abused her in his classroom and that the district ignored warning signs.
A lawsuit filed in Suffolk County Supreme Court accuses former Bay Shore High School art teacher John Kennedy of sexually assaulting a student in his classroom after a period of grooming that began when she was 17. The complaint details forced oral sex, finger penetration and other abusive acts from June through October 2025, and claims school officials ignored multiple warnings, including parental complaints and a TikTok video showing the teacher’s conduct.
The district says it placed Kennedy on administrative leave in October 2025, barred him from district property and notified the Suffolk County Police Department. The plaintiff’s attorney, Andrew Silvershein, argues that Kennedy’s position of authority made the relationship exploitative regardless of the victim’s age of consent. The filing also alleges the district previously protected another teacher, Thomas Bernagozzi, who faced child-molestation accusations. Superintendent Steven Maloney maintains the district acted promptly once the allegations were reported.
Why it matters
The case highlights how schools handle teacher misconduct and the protection of students from abuse.
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