Fort Worth Independent School District is under pressure from community leaders, educators and Muslim advocates to reinstate Shayma Alzubi as principal of Western Hills High School after reassigning her days after her hiring announcement.
The move, announced this week, came amid intense online criticism of her past social media posts supporting immigrants, Palestinians, Black Lives Matter and explaining aspects of Sharia law.
Alzubi, a veteran Fort Worth ISD educator since 2013 who previously served as an assistant principal at Southwest High School, was selected following a competitive interview process that included classroom demonstrations. The district posted her hiring announcement on May 22 featuring a photo of her wearing a hijab.
Conservative social media accounts, including Libs of TikTok, quickly shared screenshots of her older posts, sparking widespread backlash. By May 26, Fort Worth ISD removed the announcement and reassigned her pending an investigation into whether her statements aligned with district social media policies and expectations for staff neutrality in the classroom.
Tomorrow, on Thursday, May 28, CAIR-DFW plans to join Faith Power Alliance, MAS-Dallas, interfaith partners, and educators to call for reinstatement of Shayma Alzubi as principal of a Fort Worth school after she was reassigned from her post amid a backlash over her Muslim faith. pic.twitter.com/NXZ5ro3jFo
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) May 28, 2026
Community members gathered Thursday at the Unity Islamic Center in southeast Fort Worth to denounce the decision as an “anti-Muslim witch hunt” driven by online hate rather than legitimate policy concerns. Advocates, including representatives from the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ DFW chapter and Faith Power Alliance, argued the swift action sends a troubling message amid the district’s state takeover. Alzubi has reportedly received death threats and did not attend the event for safety reasons.
The district, led by Superintendent Peter Licata under Texas Education Agency oversight, maintains the review is standard procedure. Texas State Board of Education member Brandon Hall, a conservative pastor, has called for further scrutiny. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions in Fort Worth ISD, which serves a diverse student population and operates under state control following years of academic challenges at certain campuses.
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