Jacqueline Ma: California 'Teacher of the Year' arrested for sexually abusing student
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA: A San Diego school had the award-winning California elementary school teacher working with them and she was later charged with sexually abusing a student, aged under 14, following her arrest on Tuesday, March 7. Six counts of sexual misconduct were brought against Jacqueline Ma, a sixth-grade teacher at the Lincoln Acres Elementary School. These allegations include three counts of oral copulation with a minor and three counts of lewd and lecherous behavior with a minor.
She was one of the five San Diego educators chosen as "Teachers of the Year" in 2022 and the award profile stated that she "considers the relationships she maintains with her students her greatest accomplishments." Her LinkedIn profile states that the institution has employed her since 2013. It is thought that Ma's predatory behavior only claimed one victim. It is still unknown how the abuse came to light but according to the police, the pupil no longer attended the school where Ma taught. The San Diego Sherriff's Department said Ma was detained at 8 am on Tuesday out of the view of school children, as reported by Daily Mail.
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Jacqueline Ma's arrest
The department said in a statement, "Both law enforcement and our site staff collaborated to ensure that student learning and the campus climate were not interrupted. We can confirm that the student no longer attends our school, and we assure you that we will do everything we can to support the investigation."
"On the charge of having a physically inappropriate relationship with a former student," it added.
According to the police, Ma was later detained. Upon her arrest, Ma was taken to the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Center, where she was lodged under a $100,000 bond. The case is scheduled for March 9. Leighangela Brady, the school system superintendent, told NBC 7 that the arrest was valid.
Substitute teacher will replace Ma in school
Brady's statement read, "We know that our entire school community is as stunned as we were by this news. The district will cooperate with law enforcement and cannot comment any further on the pending investigation. We will continue to do everything possible to keep our students' safety, needs, and education first and foremost." Brady claims that a substitute teacher from the school will replace Ma. Ma's award profile stated that she "considers the relationships she maintains with her students her greatest accomplishments" when she was awarded a 2022 Teacher of the Year.