{"id":311860,"date":"2026-05-28T03:50:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:50:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/311860\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T03:50:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T03:50:16","slug":"fort-worth-principal-pick-faces-backlash-investigation-over-social-media-posts-defending-sharia-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/311860\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Worth principal pick faces backlash, investigation over social media posts defending Sharia law"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A newly appointed Texas high school principal is facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/fwisd-principal-pick-faces-tea-191452513.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABkQ9WGhqH-lpJ-VDq3L5ihmGTcsRm590rd_eF1dg57g-YCt2_aucckUjuY5vqNMZqpR6ifGf5ZTicpUt2dbGLyzbpPZqWCEU7OQ758KdrU4o8gC0DACn_hnLl1xyrHlbWriOc0oC941MBjc5canuPiuVQbC-H2SPzNabfezD2U8\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:backlash and a district investigation;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;backlash and a district investigation&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">backlash and a district investigation<\/a> after her alleged past social media posts defending Sharia law and supporting progressive causes resurfaced online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Shayma Alzubi, currently identified as an assistant principal for ninth grade at Southwest High School in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/us\/dallas-fort-worth\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Fort Worth;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Fort Worth&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Fort Worth<\/a>, was selected by Fort Worth ISD as the next principal of Western Hills High School and announced the news in a recent Facebook post that now appears to have been deleted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Alzubi\u2019s appointment faced criticism online after screenshots from her past <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Carlos__Turcios\/status\/2059112198106956237?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:social media posts;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;social media posts&quot;}\" class=\"link \">social media posts<\/a> surfaced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/texas-republicans-launch-sharia-free-america-caucus-aimed-defending-western-civilization\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Texas Republicans Launch &#039;Sharia Free America Caucus&#039; Aimed At Defending &#039;Western Civilization&#039;;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Texas Republicans Launch &#039;&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Texas Republicans Launch &#8216;Sharia Free America Caucus&#8217; Aimed At Defending &#8216;Western Civilization&#8217;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Fort-Worth-ISD-meeting\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1cb52def88340961c2cbdd7871eed7fd.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Parents and district advocates went before the new Fort Worth Independent School board and Superintendent Dr. Peter B. Licata (center, facing) at the District Service Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>(Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Carlos__Turcios\/status\/2059112198106956237?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Jan. 23 post;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Jan. 23 post&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Jan. 23 post<\/a> shared by Alzubi appeared to defend Sharia law by comparing it to other religious ethics and standards like &#8220;biblical principles.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">An August 2021 repost from FWISD 4 ALL demanded people vote for mask mandates at a 2021 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/outrage-qurans-hijabs-texas-school-ignites-bible-revival-outside-campus-gates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Fort Worth ISD school board;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Fort Worth ISD school board&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Fort Worth ISD school board<\/a> meeting, as well as a photo of Alzubi and another person with &#8220;BLACK LIVES MATTER&#8221; banner text.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS\/mvaj7wvj\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Read On The Fox News App;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Read On The Fox News App&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Read On The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Another photo featured banner text that read, &#8220;I am #WithDreamers I SUPPORT DACA,&#8221; which refers to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, as well as an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Carlos__Turcios\/status\/2059112198106956237\/photo\/2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:image of Alzubi;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;image of Alzubi&quot;}\" class=\"link \">image of Alzubi<\/a> accompanied by text that states, &#8220;Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a Tuesday post on X, State Board of Education member Julie Pickren called for an investigation into Alzubi, writing, &#8220;I am calling on @teainfo to do an investigation into Shayma Alzubi for violations of Texas Code of Ethics for Administrators. Furthermore, I am asking for an investigation into Dept. Commissioner of School Governance Steve Lechelop who oversees the Fort Worth ISD Board of Managers.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/texas-teachers-union-sues-state-over-investigation-controversial-charlie-kirk-posts\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Texas Teachers&#039; Union Sues State Over Investigation Into Controversial Charlie Kirk Posts;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Texas Teachers&#039;&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Texas Teachers&#8217; Union Sues State Over Investigation Into Controversial Charlie Kirk Posts<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Female students in hijabs at school lockers\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/424958bd05076dc787f4e729dd675831.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Students walk to class at Iman Academy Southwest on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 in Houston.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a Tuesday update on X replying to her initial post, Pickren <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Julie4TX\/status\/2059405352253436128?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:shared a statement;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;shared a statement&quot;}\" class=\"link \">shared a statement<\/a> she said came from the Fort Worth ISD suggesting that Alzubi could be reassigned pending an investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/mamdani-backs-candidate-who-called-9-11-terror-attack-couple-people-did\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Mamdani Backs Candidate Who Called 9\/11 \u2018A Terror Attack A Couple Of People Did\u2019;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Mamdani Backs Candidate Who Called 9\/11 \u2018A Terror Attack A Couple Of People Did\u2019&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Mamdani Backs Candidate Who Called 9\/11 \u2018A Terror Attack A Couple Of People Did\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A Texas high school classroom with state flag and clock\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4db31526b85b1c7a257905359af1457c.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>A Texas high school classroom with state flag and clock.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Brandon Hall, a member of the State Board of Education, told The Dallas Express, &#8220;I am very concerned to see the extreme content that was apparently posted on social media by Shayma Alzubi,&#8221; and in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BrandonHallTX\/status\/2059325379748241446?s=20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Tuesday post;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Tuesday post&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Tuesday post<\/a> on X wrote, &#8220;As a State Board of Education member representing FWISD, you better believe I am on top of this situation. Stay posted.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In a statement to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Fox News Digital;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Fox News Digital&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Fox News Digital<\/a>, Fort Worth ISD said, &#8220;Yesterday, May 26th, Fort Worth ISD was made aware of multiple social media posts from the past by a finalist for a principal position in the district. After review, it was determined that the posts may not align with the district\u2019s social media policy and expectations for staff. Therefore, the candidate will be reassigned pending the outcome of an investigation. As such, the district will not comment further on an open investigation.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Fort Worth ISD is in full compliance with state law and per statute TEC 28.0022, FWISD administration ensures that all issues of public policy or social affairs be explored objectively and in a manner free from political bias,&#8221; the statement continued.\u00a0&#8220;Our district leaders, educators and staff will not inject personal political perspectives into classrooms. 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Click Here To Download The Fox News App;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Click Here To Download The Fox News App&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Click Here To Download The Fox News App<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Fox News Digital reached out to Alzubi and Pickren for comment but did not immediately receive responses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Original article source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/fort-worth-principal-pick-faces-backlash-investigation-social-media-posts-defending-sharia-law\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Fort Worth principal pick faces backlash, investigation over social media posts defending Sharia law;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Fort Worth principal pick faces backlash, investigation over social media posts defending Sharia law&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Fort Worth principal pick faces backlash, investigation over social media posts defending Sharia law<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A newly appointed Texas high school principal is facing backlash and a district investigation after her alleged past&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":311861,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[116,118,8257,117,100,62168,30484,111807,104788,61575,2914,111808],"class_list":["post-311860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth-headlines","tag-fort-worth-isd","tag-fort-worth-news","tag-investigation","tag-julie-pickren","tag-sharia-law","tag-shayma-alzubi","tag-social-media-posts","tag-southwest-high-school","tag-state-board-of-education","tag-western-hills-high-school"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=311860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/311860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/311861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=311860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=311860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=311860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}