A Muslim educator, Shayma Alzubi, who was reassigned from her role as Western Hills High School principal after online backlash over past social media posts, says Fort Worth ISD offered her a $130,000 district-level job days before telling families she had been promoted.

Background

Alzubi was initially offered the principal position at Western Hills High School, but after her social media posts sparked controversy, she was temporarily reassigned to the Department of Performance Management and School Choice. She has since filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging that her First Amendment rights were violated.

Alzubi’s lawsuit claims that the district’s decision to reassign her was based on her personal social media posts, which were made on her own time and did not identify her as a representative of FWISD. The posts in question included a definition of sharia law, support for Black Lives Matter, and comments on the district’s COVID-19 mask policy.

Legal Action

Alzubi’s attorneys argue that the district cannot rely on online hostility to justify removing her from the Western Hills job. They have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, asking the court to immediately reinstate Alzubi as principal for the 2026-27 school year.

The case has sparked debate about the balance between a school district’s interest in preventing disruption and an employee’s First Amendment rights. Law professors have noted that such cases often turn on whether the speech caused a real disruption, rather than merely being unpopular or drawing public criticism.

Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.