Muslim Vice Principal Reassigned after Conservative Backlash

By Nisie

Shortly after announcing Shayma Alzubi as the new principal of Western Hills High School, republican and conservative leaders expressed outrage on social media. The outrage is directed towards posts on social media made by Alzubi explaining the moral code of Sharia law. Additionally, she had Facebook profile picture frames that express support for Black Lives Matter and Palestine. According to the Texas State Board of Education. Those Facebook posts and profile picture frames served as the catalyst for Shayma Alzubi's removal from her position at Western Hills High School. 

Fort Worth ISD said in a statement to news outlets that administrators ensure that “all issues of public policy or social affairs be explored objectively and, in a manner, free from political bias. Our district leaders, educators, and staff will not inject personal political perspectives into classrooms." “It has nothing to do with her religion,” Hall said in a text message to The Dallas Morning News. “School leaders are held to a higher standard for their public statements.” According to Texas State Board of Education member Brand Hall, posts from Alzubi defending Sharia and supporting Palestinians disqualified her from school leadership. 

Texas State Board of Education Member Brandon Hall's X post

However, a post on the X platform by Brandon Hall, “alerting” his followers that he is “on top of the situation,” after sharing a photo of Shayma Alzubi, might lead others to believe religion and prejudice were not left out of this decision.

Anti-Islamic rhetoric has spiraled into a frenzy in the last few months. Those who believe in the false narrative that Muslims are taking over Texas pointed to the hiring of Alzubi as further proof of this alleged “Muslim takeover”. But only about 2% of adults identify as Muslim, according to the PEW Research Religious Landscape Study. In Dallas-Fort Worth, that number is 1%.

Whether Shayma was fired due to prejudice or not, this entire episode outlines the complexity of a TEA takeover. Fort Worth ISD no longer has control; for now, crucial decisions like the hiring and firing of staff members are left to a Republican led state. Will this TEA takeover continue to cause problems for students and staff? Fort Worth ISD has seen a massive drop in student enrollment, plummeting from nearly 83,000 students in the 2019-2020 school year to under 68,000 now. Faculty is leaving at alarming rates. Will fort worth ISD survive this state takeover?