A California teacher is facing 15 charges, including lewd acts with a child and possession of child pornography, after allegedly sexually abusing a former student. Jacqueline Ma, who worked at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City since 2013 and was named one of the “Teachers of the Year” by the San Diego County Office of Education for the 2022-2023 school year, was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to the victim and keeping his photo in her wallet.
Ma, who is 34 years old, was arrested twice in March after first being released on bond. Despite the serious allegations, she has pleaded not guilty to all charges. During a court hearing, Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart described Ma as “obsessive, possessive, controlling and dangerous,” alleging that she sent explicit images to the student and coerced him to send explicit videos back to her. Hart claimed that the inappropriate behavior began when the victim was just 12 years old.
The allegations against Ma highlight the importance of protecting students and investigating allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct thoroughly and promptly. National School District Superintendent Leighangela Brady issued a statement saying that Ma will no longer be returning to the school campus. “While this entire situation is indeed deeply troubling, we appreciate that law enforcement is dedicating resources to secure the facts and keeping our school district and community informed of their progress,” Brady wrote. “I am grateful to our entire school community for facing this situation with a shared commitment to do all that we can to maintain our children’s education without interruption.”
All educators and school staff members must be held to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior. The safety and well-being of students should always be the top priority. The allegations against Ma serve as a reminder that authorities and school officials must work together to ensure the safety and well-being of students and to address allegations of sexual abuse or misconduct promptly and thoroughly.