San Diego ex-teacher Jacqueline Ma changed her plea to guilty Wednesday as the county’s former “Teacher of the Year” avoided a trial over her sexual abuse of two students who were 11 and 12 at the time.

The plea agreement said Ma, 35, faces a possible prison sentence of 30 years to life when she returns to court in May.

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

“We think this plea deal sends a message,” he continued. “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.”

The former sixth-grader teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School was arrested in March 2023 after a parent suspected her son was having an inappropriate relationship with Ma.

Ma was initially released on bail following her arrest, but she was taken back into custody shortly afterward because prosecutors said they found evidence of child pornography.  

Prosecutors said the misconduct went on for almost a year with one of the victims.

“Do not forget my underwear is in your pocket,” read a message between Ma and a former student, according to a detective’s 2023 court testimony. “I love you too, like I’m actually in love with you.”

Ma was named the 2022 “Teacher of Year” by the San Diego County Office of Education.

Leighangela Brady, the superintendent of the National School District, released a statement following the guilty plea.

“Two years ago, when we learned of the allegations of inappropriate physical activity between this former educator and a minor, we were stunned to our core,” Ms. Brady wrote. “Although she was immediately placed on unpaid status and has been detained ever since, I want to assure our school community that with this guilty plea, we are now able to formally move to terminate her employment with the district.”

• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.