Fort Worth ISD’s new Muslim principal reassigned over past social media posts

FORT WORTH, Texas - A new principal in the Fort Worth Independent School District has been reassigned amid controversy over old social media posts.

What we know:

Last week, Shayma Alzubi was selected as the new principal of Western Hills High School.

She’s been with Fort Worth ISD for over a decade, most recently serving as an assistant principal at Southwest High School.

But the district said that on Tuesday it was made aware of several questionable social media posts that Alzubi made in the past, prompting an investigation.

Alzubi will be reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation, the district said.

Dig deeper:

The posts in question include one from January that appears to defend Sharia Law, comparing it to other religious ethics like biblical principles.

Screenshots sent to the district also show a repost from August 2021 in support of COVID mask mandates in the district, a photo of Alzubi with a Black Lives Matter banner, and a photo with the caption "Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine."

What they're saying:

Fort Worth ISD said the posts do not align with its social media policy and expectations for staff.

"Our district leaders, educators, and staff will not inject personal political perspectives into classrooms," the district said in a statement to FOX News Digital. "Fort Worth ISD serves a wide array of families and students that are civically engaged and maintain a variety of perspectives. As a taxpayer-funded entity, we will remain focused on our mission of providing a high-quality education for all students."

Support for Alzubi

The other side:

On Thursday, more than a dozen community faith groups, education advocates and social media influencers voiced their support for Alzubi at the Islamic Unity Center in Fort Worth.

They argue she went through the interview process and was selected by Fort Worth ISD as the best candidate for the position based on her skill and experience. But immediately after her selection was announced, "multiple right-wing bloggers" began complaining that a "visibly Muslim woman was appointed as principal," the supporters said in a news release.

"I'm seeing the titles being about this principal, you know, being charged because of her posts," E.J. Carrion of the '817 Podcast said. And I think the real title needs to be that the board of managers is allowing right wing influencers to be their H.R."

Alzubi’s supporters are calling on the district to immediately reinstate her, claiming she is the victim of religious discrimination.

"They just told every hate group in Texas, harass an educator, threaten them, dox them, and we will remove them," Sabrina Ball of FWISD 4 All said. "They're building a future where hate wins. But we're here to say not in our schools, not with our children, not on our watch."

"What happened here sends a dangerous message that if you are Muslim, if you're a Palestinian, if you are visibly different, your leadership can be taken away. The moment extremists decide to target you," Fadya Risheq said.

The group is exploring legal action against the state of Texas and Fort Worth ISD, maintaining that the action against Alzubi contradicts her leadership, experience and positive influence on students and teachers.

"You know what Miss Alzubi taught before she was an assistant principal. Chemistry. You know how I know that? Because when I taught middle school, my middle school students went to Carter Riverside and had her as a teacher," said Ali Checka, a teacher in Fort Worth ISD.

"That's how I know she's good. And I, and a whole lot of other teachers, by the way, who taught at that school, taught there because she was there. I see them out there."

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