Fort Worth principal applicant under investigation for posts about Sharia law

Controversy Surrounds New High School Principal in Texas

A Texas high school principal recently appointed is under scrutiny following some resurfaced social media posts. The posts allegedly show her defending Sharia law and endorsing various progressive causes.

Shaima Alzubi, who is currently serving as the ninth-grade assistant principal at Southwest High School in Fort Worth, was announced as the new principal for Western Hills High School. Interestingly, the announcement was made via a Facebook post that has since been taken down.

Once the posts were uncovered, backlash quickly grew online. Alzubi’s past comments included comparisons of Sharia law to other religious guidelines and ethics, which some have found concerning.

There was also an August 2021 post urging people to vote in favor of mask mandates during a Fort Worth ISD School Board meeting. In that post, a photo showed Alzubi with another person holding a banner that read “BLACK LIVES MATTER.”

Another contentious image featured the phrase, “#WithDreamers I SUPPORT DACA,” along with the statement, “Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.” This combination has led to questions about her views on significant societal issues.

In response, Texas Education Commissioner Julie Picklen has called for an investigation into Alzubi, expressing concerns about potential violations of the Texas Administrator Code of Ethics. Picklen also raised issues with another school administrator overseeing the Fort Worth ISD Board.

In a recent statement, Picklen noted that Fort Worth ISD is considering reassigning Alzubi while the investigation is underway.

Concerns regarding Alzubi’s past posts also prompted Brandon Hall, a member of the State Board of Education, to express his worry over the “possibly extreme content” she posted. He reassured the public that he would be monitoring the situation closely.

Fort Worth ISD confirmed that they are looking into the matter after being made aware of Alzubi’s social media history. The district stated the posts could conflict with their social media policy and guidelines for staff. Therefore, Alzubi’s appointment might be reconsidered, pending the results of the investigation. They emphasized that they abide by state law and policies to provide unbiased education to their diverse student body.