Jacqueline Ma San Diego National City elementary teacher of the year arrested on suspicion of sex crime with former 12 year old student.
A former San Diego elementary teacher of the year has been arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a former student.
Jacqueline Ma, 34, was arrested on campus, early Tuesday morning at a National City elementary school, National School District Superintendent Leighangela Brady said in an email to parents Tuesday.
Ma is a sixth-grade teacher at the school, located on Lanoitan Avenue near E 24th Street. The alleged age of the educator’s victim, is understood to be 14 years old the San Diego Union Tribute reported.
Ma was being held in county jail Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to online jail records. Her arraignment is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Chula Vista Superior Court.
Brady said in the email to parents that police and school staff worked together to ensure that students were kept away and classes were not disturbed while the arrest was happening.
San Diego teacher of the year kept 12 yr old victim’s photo in wallet
‘Surreal’
The superintendent described the victim as as a ‘former student’ who ‘no longer attends our school.’
It was not clear Tuesday when the alleged offenses occurred or what age the victim was at the time. Online jail records show that Ma was booked into jail on suspicion of crimes including committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the age of 14.
It is also not yet clear what charges, if any, the county District Attorney’s Office will file in the case.
‘We know that our entire school community will be as stunned as we were by this news,’ Brady said in the email to parents.
She later added: ‘We want to assure you that the campus has remained calm, and students are focused on their typical day, and the dedicated teachers, support staff and we will continue to work together to keep the students’ well-being at the heart of our work.’
Brady said the district is offering support to any students or staff processing the arrest.
In August, Ma was one of five teachers named as San Diego County’s Teachers of the Year. She has taught grades fifth and sixth in the National School District since 2013.
When she was named a 2022 Teacher of the Year, an award profile for Ma read that she ‘considers the relationships she maintains with her students her greatest accomplishments,’ according to NBC 7.
Adding, ‘It still feels surreal to be chosen to represent all the amazing educators in San Diego. It’s a huge honor.’
It remained unclear what led to the female educator abusing her position of trust, authority and power and subjugating her teen victim.
