A Lesson from the Case of One Bad Teacher

The case of the former Teacher of the Year at a National City elementary school shocked parents from the beginning.

Having pleaded guilty earlier this year to sexually abusing two of her sixth-grade students, 36 year old Jacqueline Ma was sentenced last Friday to 30 years to life in prison, for what she did.

Prosecutors hoping it will not only send a message to others like her whose actions were reprehensible, but that it may also have sent a warning to parents everywhere.

This one teacher is only one teacher and her case in no way should reflect badly on teachers in any general way at all and cases like this one are very few and far between.

But parents entrust their kids to teachers every day. And while cases like this are very rare, it is a reminder to parents to take time to get to know their kids teachers and to look for any signs in their kids of any kind of trouble they may be having in school, with teachers or other students, from bad grades to bullying.

Teachers have one of the most important jobs there is. But being a parent is an even more important one.

(Photo reporting partner 10News)