When a teacher is recognized statewide for excellence, the last thing folks expect is abuse aimed at students. Tragically, it does still happen. And recently, California “teacher of the year” pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two elementary students.
Jacqueline Ma, 35, of San Diego, was supposed to go to trial in April 2025. She faced multiple felony charges following her 2023 arrest. After taking a plea deal, however, she is now looking at several decades behind bars for her actions.
More from LittleThings: California School District Pays $2.25 Million To Boy Raped By Teacher Who Had His Baby
The former ‘Teacher of the Year’ pleaded guilty in February to sexually abusing two students.
On February 5, 2025, Ma pleaded guilty to four felony counts, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The move was part of a surprise plea deal with prosecutors to avoid a trial. Her charges included two counts of lewd acts with a child under age 14, with duress; one count of a lewd act involving a second child under 14; and possessing material containing a minor engaged in or simulating sexual conduct.
When she was arrested, a photo of one of the victims was in her wallet.
In the spring of 2023, Ma was arrested and charged for allegedly having sexual relationships with two students, 11 and 12, Fox 5 San Diego reported.
“When she was arrested, she had a photograph of the victim in her wallet, she had jewelry with his initials, love letters were discovered in her classroom,” Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart said in March 2023, per CBS8.
Ma allegedly coerced the students to send explicit images.
When the alleged abuse happened, Ma was a teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School. She allegedly sent explicit images to the 12-year-old student and then coerced him to send explicit videos to her.
“From our office’s perspective, it was very important that these be charged as not just sex offenses, but sex offenses done under duress and that’s what she pleaded to,” Hart said, per Fox 5 San Diego.
More from LittleThings: Former ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant & Math Teacher Accused Of Soliciting Child Sex Abuse Images
She now faces decades in prison.
In light of Ma’s guilty plea, there will not be a trial in April as originally scheduled. She now faces 30 years to life in prison for her crimes. Her sentencing date is May 9.
In 2022, Ma was awarded a teaching honor.
In August 2022, Ma and four other teachers were named San Diego County Teacher of the Year for the 2022–23 school year.
“This was very significant to us, not just because she won an award, but because of who she was in the community,” Hart said, via Fox 5 San Diego. “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.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child), or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7
