March 9, 2023
NATIONAL CITY, CA—Parents at Lincoln Acres Elementary School are stunned after learning an award-winning 6th-grade teacher, Jacqueline Ma, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly having sexual relations with a 13-year-old student.
Jacqueline Ma faces three counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and three counts of oral copulation with a child under 14, according to San Diego County Sheriff’s Department records.
The 34-year-old teacher was booked at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility.
Ma was named one of five 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year in an annual showcase of educators by Cox. Ma told Cox at the time she “considers the relationship she maintains with her students her greatest accomplishments,” according to NBC7 San Diego.
Authorities did not detail when the alleged abuse occurred. The National City Police Department launched an investigation after a parent reported Monday that she believed her 13-year-old child possibly had an inappropriate relationship with a teacher.
“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,” District Superintendent Leighangela Brady wrote in a statement sent to NBC7.
The school district confirmed Ma was arrested on campus at around 8 a.m. and stated the district is only aware of one alleged victim and that the victim is no longer a student.
Ma is expected in court on March 14.
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