Our Valley Santa Clarita September/October 2016 | Page 7

esteem. Extending beyond the borders
of the school, Jacqui helped to found the
Valle del Oro Community Committee.
The goal was to fight the problems of
gangs, drugs and teenage prostitution.
The committee had the support of the
city, the county, California Institute of the
Arts and the homeowners association.
She worked hand in hand with the
Sherriff’s department and the Anti-Gang
Task Force. Her efforts greatly helped
the community, but unfortunately not
everyone was happy.
She received a number of threats and
her car was keyed on one occasion. On
another occasion, the father of a student
she had disciplined threatened to do her
harm. Rather than wait for him to act,
Jacqui went to his home and said, “My
name is Mrs. Ponce. I hear you are looking
for me. Well, here I am.”

“No matter what the challenges,
always believe in you. Everyone
has the potential to succeed. Dream
big! Let your stars shine. Let YOUR
star shine.”

Fortunately that encounter ended well
and so did many others. Some, try as
hard as she might, did not end well. A boy
she mentored from the 2nd grade who
had done reasonably well throughout
twelve years with her, ended up as a gang
member who at age nineteen was shot
and killed.
This year Jacqui retired to stay home
and look after her mother and her aunt.
That is a full-time job, but Jacqui still
spends most of her free time helping her
community and young people with life
coaching.
Jacqui’s advice to young people, “No
matter what the challenges, always
believe in you. Everyone has the potential
to succeed. Dream big! Let your stars
shine. Let YOUR star shine.”

7