Debbie Almontaser

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Debbie Almontaser (also Dhaba Almontaser or Dhabah Almontaser) is a teacher[1] of Yemeni descent who was the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, a New York Arab-themed public school, named after the Christian Arab poet, Khalil Gibran.

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[edit] Controversy over the Khalil Gibran International Academy

Almontaser resigned after the controversy arising over a T-shirt created by a group called "Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media", an organization that used office space to run it's youth program at Saba: Association of Yemeni American which she is a board member.[2] The T-shirt had the words, "Intifada NYC" on it, which, according to the New York Post, was "apparently a call for a Gaza-style uprising in the Big Apple".[3] Almontaser explained that "the word basically means 'shaking off'. That is the root word if you look it up in Arabic." Almontaser added that she understood that "it is developing a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas" and that she does not "believe the intention is to have any of that kind of [violence] in New York City." The Post quoted her as saying "I think it's pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society . . . and shaking off oppression." (ellipses in original)[3]

Almontaser denied using the phrase "shaking off oppression," and a federal appeals court ruled that the Post had quoted her “incorrectly and misleadingly.”[4]

The next day, the Board of Education issued a statement without her approval that said, "By minimizing the word's historical associations I implied that I condone violence and threats of violence....That view is anathema to me and the very opposite of my life's work."[5]

[edit] Media and public reaction

The New York Post immediately called Almontaser the "Intifada Principal" and published an editorial with the headline "What's Arabic for 'Shut It Down'?"[6] Randi Weingarten, president of the New York City teacher's union, wrote a letter to the Post agreeing with the editorial.[7]

However, in a New York Times article, journalism professor Samuel G. Freedman wrote, "For anyone who bothered to look for it, Ms. Almontaser left a clear, public record of interfaith activism and outreach across the boundaries of race, ethnicity and religion. Her efforts, especially after the September 11 attacks, earned her honors, grants and fellowships. She has collaborated so often with Jewish organizations that an Arab-American newspaper, Aramica, castigated her earlier this summer for being too close to a 'Zionist organization,' meaning the Anti-Defamation League. Ms. Almontaser has twice been profiled on Voice of America as an accomplished Muslim American."[8]

Local politicians like Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz have expressed support for Almontaser, calling for her to be reinstated. Markowitz noted that Almontaser "was dumped on, and she doesn't deserve it" and that he has "witnessed her work, bringing Muslims and Jews and other religions together." [9] Additionally, Councilman John Liu noted that the Department of Education, "and this administration acted totally irresponsibly and violated the trust placed in them in what they allowed to happen to Debbie Almontasser."[10]

[edit] Subsequent legal action

On November 19, 2007, Almontaser brought a lawsuit claiming that, in forcing her to resign because of her interview with the New York Post, and denying her the opportunity to be considered for the position of permanent principal at the Khalil Gibran International Academy, the Department of Education violated her First Amendment rights.[11][12] On February 5, 2008, Almontaser requested that the 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan grant a preliminary injunction to force the board of education to give her an interview for the job of principal.[13] On March 20, the Appeals court rejected her request and sent it back to the trial court.[14][15]

On March 3, she filed an amended complaint in her federal lawsuit and a charge with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, both of which assert that Department of Education (DOE) officials discriminated against her on the basis of race, religion, and national origin.[16]

[edit] Personal life and community activism

According to the Jewish Week, Almontaser invited hundreds of Jews and Christians to her own home after the 9/11 attack. She had joined organizations to form social action groups, such as We Are All Brooklyn, an inter-ethnic initiative supported by the Jewish Community Relations Council, to combat hate crimes in Brooklyn. Almontaser also trained with the Anti-Defamation League's anti-bias program, A World of Difference, as a facilitator for diversity training and inter-group dynamics in the public schools.[17]

She conducted sensitivity training and presentations in Churches, Synagogues and other houses of worship.[18] Almontaser has also worked as a liaison between the Muslim community and the NYPD.[19] Her son spent months at the World Trade Center site as a member of the Army National Guard and her cousins have served the US Military in Iraq.

[edit] References

  1. ^ From Yemen to Coney Island; From Teacher to Community Activist
  2. ^ Democracy Now, Principal at New NYC Arabic-Language School Forced to Resign, August 13th, 2007. Interview with Mona Eldahry, co-founder of AWAAM, Arab women active in the Arts and Media, on the meaning of the "Intifada NYC" T-shirt.
  3. ^ a b "City Principal Is 'Revolting'", New York Post, August 6, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  4. ^ Battle in Brooklyn: A Principal’s Rise and Fall; Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream School, By Andrea Elliott, New York Times, April 28, 2008
  5. ^ Green, Elizabeth. "Arab School Principal Says She Regrets Intifada Remarks", New York Sun, August 7, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  6. ^ "What's Arabic for 'Shut It Down'?", New York Post, August 10, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-21. 
  7. ^ TERROR TOTS IN TRAINING, New York Post, Oct. 16, 2007
  8. ^ She was also awarded the Revson Fellowship in 2004 for her contribution to city life,such as her bridge-building work in New York City. In the past few years, Ms. Almontaser has received a few awards from faith based groups such as Affinity Health Plan and proclamations for building bridges of understanding from the Borough President of Brooklyn and the Mayor of the City of New York for Arab Heritage Week. In 2004 Ms. Almontaser received the Revson Fellowship award for her contributions to City life. [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/education/29education.html On Education: Critics Ignored Record Of a Muslim Principal, by Samuel G. Freedman, New York Times, August 29, 2007.
  9. ^ Beep backs Arabic school, urges controversial principal be reinstated
  10. ^ NY1: Top Stories
  11. ^ Almontaser v. New York City Department of Education et al Debbie Almontaser, plaintiff, vs. New York City Department of Education, Joel Klein, Rosemary Stuart, City of New York, Michael Bloomberg and Dennis Walcott, defendant, Case Number: 1:2007cv10444, Filed: November 19, 2007
  12. ^ Ex-Arabic School Head Readies Lawsuit Against City - October 17, 2007 - The New York Sun
  13. ^ Press Release, EDUCATOR TO ASK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS TO UPHOLD HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, Feb. 1, 2008
  14. ^ NY appeals court rejects claim by Arabic school principal, AP, International Herald Tribune, March 20, 2008
  15. ^ 07-5468-cv Debbie Almontaser v. NYC Dep't of Educ., United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, August Term, 2007, (Argued: February 5, 2008 Decided: March 20, 2008) Docket No. 07-5468-cv, Before: Newman, Winter, and B.D. Parker, Circuit Judges. (PDF)
  16. ^ Press release, Arab-American Educator Charges NYC Department of Education with Discrimination, March 3, 2008.
  17. ^ Jewish Shootout Over Arab School; Fall of Jewish-supported principal exposes bitter fault line on approach to Muslims, Larry Cohler-Esses, The Jewish Week, Aug. 17, 2007
  18. ^ From Yemen to Coney Island; From Teacher to Community Activist
  19. ^ NPR: Teacher Works for Understanding of U.S. Muslims

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