The San Diego school where the award-winning California elementary school teacher worked was charged with sexually abusing a student after her arrest on Tuesday.
Six counts of sexual misconduct were brought against Jacqueline Ma, a sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School. These allegations include three counts of oral copulation with a minor and three counts of lewd and lecherous behaviour with a minor.
One of the five San Diego educators chosen as “Teachers of the Year” in 2022 was the 34-year-old. Her LinkedIn profile states that she has been employed by the school since 2013.
Ma was detained outside of students’ view at 8am on Tuesday, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.
‘Both law enforcement and our site staff collaborated to ensure that student learning and the campus climate were not interrupted,’ the department said in a statement.
We can confirm that the student is no longer enrolled at our institution, and we pledge to support the investigation in any way we can.
‘On the allegation of having a physically inappropriate relationship with a former student,’ according to the police, Ma was detained.
Following her arrest, Ma was taken to the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility where she was lodged under a $100,000 bond.
The case is scheduled for March 9.
NBC 7 received a statement from school district chief Leighangela Brady confirming the arrest.
Brady also confirmed that there was only one victim who was known to have left the school.
We are aware that the news has shocked everyone at our school just as much as we have. Brady’s statement stated that the district would assist law enforcement but that it was unable to make any further comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
We will keep putting our students’ safety, needs, and education first and foremost by doing everything in our power.
Brady claims that Ma’s replacement will be filled by a substitute teacher from the school.
Ma’s award profile stated that she “considers the relationships she maintains with her students her greatest accomplishment” when she was named a 2022 Teacher of the Year.
