A federal lawsuit filed by the Council on American Islamic Relations alleges Fort Worth ISD violated the constitutional rights of an educator whose promotion to principal of Western Hills High School was later withdrawn.
The lawsuit centers on Shayma Alzubi, a longtime educator who was briefly promoted to principal in May before the district reversed the decision.
During a news conference in Fort Worth, Alzubi’s attorney said the district acted after concerns were raised about social media activity from years ago.
“That promotion was publicly announced and then abruptly withdrawn shortly after a hysteria erupted over her decades-old social media activity about her faith, her heritage, and some run-of-the-mill political expressions about BLM and DACA,” the attorney said.
According to supporters and attorneys representing Alzubi, Fort Worth ISD identified four social media posts as problematic.
Those posts included a repost of another person’s definition of sharia law and a photograph showing Alzubi as a college student posing next to an entry in a Chili’s restaurant coloring contest. The image included the text, “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.”
“That’s what this hysteria is about, in part, her participation in a Chili’s coloring contest 15 years,” the attorney said.
Supporters said the posts gained attention after the district shared a photograph of Alzubi as the new principal wearing a hijab.
They argued the case extends beyond one employee and raises concerns about religious identity and free speech within the school district.
Supporters also criticized the district, which is currently overseen by the Texas Education Agency, saying the decision sends a troubling message to staff and students.
Fort Worth ISD previously told NBC 5 it became aware of “multiple social media posts” from the past and determined after review that the posts “do not align with the district’s social media policy and expectations for staff.”
The district has not publicly identified the posts it considered problematic.
Fort Worth ISD declined to provide additional clarification and did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
The lawsuit seeks to have Alzubi reinstated as principal of Western Hills High School.