Former ‘Teacher Of The Year’ Pleads Guilty To Sexually Abusing Two Students

A California teacher, who had previously been labeled “Teacher of the Year” in San Diego County, sobbed in court as she admitted to sexually abusing two students, ages 11 and 12.

Jacqueline Ma, who formerly taught at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City, was arrested in spring 2023 after the mother of a 12-year-old boy alerted authorities about Ma’s explicit texts to her son.

She had initially faced up to 180 years in prison for her crimes but entered a plea agreement for lesser charges, a likely 30-year-to-life sentence.

Per the New York Post, Deputy District Attorney Drew Heart said, “This was very significant to us, not just because she won an award, but because of who she was in the community.”

Ma pleaded guilty to possessing illicit material of a minor, which authorities said resulted from her sending X-rated images to the students and urging them to reciprocate. Prosecutors noted that Ma repeatedly pressured the minors to send explicit photos of themselves, prompting the 12-year-old to state, “Sometimes I think you don’t understand that I am a kid still.”

Superior Court Judge Maryann D’Addezio presided over the preliminary hearing in 2023 and later described the evidence as “overwhelmingly clear that the defendant took advantage of two children.”

Prosecutors said one instance involved Ma removing her shirt in a private meeting with the 12-year-old victim inside a classroom. After her arrest, law enforcement also discovered a photograph of one of the boys in her wallet.

California ‘Teacher of the Year’ sobs as she admits abusing two students, ages 11 and 12 https://t.co/5fQYdgiXKS pic.twitter.com/qIisP6Jsvz

— New York Post (@nypost) February 7, 2025

“We think this plea deal sends a message to the community, not just about sex offenses on children, but when you leverage a position of trust, when you leverage good faith with parents in the community and you do this to their children, there will be significant penalties to pay,” Heart said.

Ma’s sentencing is set for May 9.