Dozens of people filled a Fort Worth school board meeting Tuesday night to talk about Shayma Alzubi, whose promotion to principal was sidelined while officials investigate whether her personal social media posts violated district policies governing online communication.
Those calling for Alzubi’s reinstatement—including local Islamic activists—claim the Muslim woman is the victim of “Islamophobia.” Supporters of the board’s investigation say a public school leader should not be publicly promoting “unconstitutional” Sharia law.
In May, Alzubi was announced as the new principal of Western Hills High School in the Fort Worth Independent School District, which has been headed by a state-appointed board of managers since March following five years of failing schools.
When Alzubi’s personal social media posts promoting Sharia law came to light, sparking community concerns, district leaders temporarily reassigned Alzubi pending an investigation into whether her posts aligned with the district’s staff social media policies.
The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Texas chapter then filed a federal lawsuit on Alzubi’s behalf, accusing Fort Worth ISD of yielding to “anti‑Muslim, anti‑Palestinian hysteria” and punishing her constitutionally protected speech.
CAIR bills itself as the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, but Gov. Greg Abbott has designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization for the purposes of enforcing Texas laws.
Several speakers at Tuesday night’s school board meeting said they represented Faith Power Alliance, a Dallas-based group formed in December 2025 to “organize American Muslims,” build “grassroots political power,” and advance “an Islamic intellectual and political framework.”
They echoed CAIR’s complaint that the district’s investigation was motivated entirely by anti-Muslim animus.
The Islamic activists were joined by district teachers, students, and residents praising Alzubi’s job performance and calling on the board to reinstate her to the principal position.
A handful of speakers rejected attempts to frame community concerns as “Islamophobia” and “anti-Muslim hysteria.”
“I fought for freedom for this country,” said Navy veteran Ashley Louden. “When someone in a position of authority over our children publicly promotes ideas that are unconstitutional and a threat to that same freedom, stating she wants some form of Sharia law in public schools, this board has every right to be concerned.”
“By screaming Islamophobia, they’re hoping we won’t discuss the real issue: whether someone entrusted with educating our children should publicly promote or defend an ideology that conflicts with the principles of equal protection, equal justice, and one law for all,” she said.
“Parents must remain free to question public officials and public policies without being smeared for raising concerns,” added Louden. “We do not ask anyone to abandon their faith. We ask public officials to uphold the Constitution while serving in positions of authority over our children.”
Fort Worth ISD’s policy governing employees’ personal use of social media states:
All employees shall be held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic communication as for any other public conduct. If an employee’s use of electronic communication violates state or federal law or District policy, or interferes with the employee’s ability to effectively perform his or her job duties, the employee is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
Alzubi has worked for Fort Worth ISD as a teacher and assistant principal for more than a decade.
She has held a Texas teaching certificate since 2013 and was certified to work as a principal in 2021.
The Texas Education Agency said it received a complaint about the matter, but Alzubi’s certification is not under TEA review.
While awaiting the outcome of Fort Worth ISD’s investigation and CAIR’s lawsuit, Alzubi remains reassigned to the district’s Performance Management and School Choice department.
