Reassigned Western Hills leader rejects ‘made-up job’ offer from Fort Worth ISD
Shayma Alzubi, the Western Hills High School principal reassigned after backlash over past social media posts, said in a legal filing she rejected a $130,000 district job offer.
“I applied for the position of Principal and that is the job I was hired to do,” Alzubi wrote in the filing. She said the position was a “made-up job that no one else in the District has.” She also filed a motion for preliminary injunction, asking a federal judge to reinstate her in the Western Hills principal job before the school year begins.
Asked to comment on the filing, a district spokesperson said Alzubi had been promoted to the position of principal program administrator.
“Following a comprehensive review process, the district has identified a leadership opportunity that aligns with Shayma Alzubi’s demonstrated strengths as an educator and administrator while advancing her career as well as strategic priorities across the district,” the spokes person said, describing the job as “a districtwide leadership position focused on supporting campuses in key areas of academic acceleration.”
Alzubi filed a new version of her lawsuit July 9 in federal court after the first version was tossed out because her legal team did not include a local attorney. The updated complaint adds Fort Worth attorney Jason C.N. Smith as local counsel.
Alzubi was named principal of Western Hills High School in May, but days later the school district reassigned her after online backlash over her old social media posts. Alzubi had posted about the Black Lives Matter movement and Sharia law.
Alzubi was named principal of Western Hills High School in May, but four days later the school district reassigned her after online backlash over her old social media posts. Alzubi had posted about the Black Lives Matter movement and Sharia law.
Following the reassignment, the district emailed a statement acknowledging that outsiders had raised concerns about Alzubi’s social media posts. In the statement, an administrator said the posts “may not align with the District’s social media police and expectations for staff.”
The filing argues the district already knew about Alzubi’s social media presence because officials had vetted her accounts. It also says a district administrator called Alzubi before the public statement to tell her about the online controversy and reassure her that her social media had already been reviewed before her promotion.
Editor’s note: Pete Geren is the president and chief executive officer of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which is a funder of the Star-Telegram’s Crossroads Lab. The Star-Telegram retains independence in all coverage decisions.
