Communities in Support of KGIA

• Mayor and DOE Close KGIA’s Middle School, The Nation’s First Dual Language Arabic School
• Federal Panel Finds Bias in Ouster of Principal: New York Times
• EEOC Rules that DOE Discriminated Against Former Interim Acting Principal
• DOE Rejects Finding of Discrimination, Refuses to Negotiation with Almontaser
  
• CAIR-NY Welcomes EEOC Finding of Bias in Ousted Principal
• Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream Job: New York Times
• Letter to Mayor Bloomberg from the Arab and other Diverse Communities
• Open Letter to Jewish Community
• Top Educators call for Debbie Almontaser’s Reinstatment
• Debbie Almontaser Tells Her Story
• Read more articles
• Read more press releases

Stand Up Against Anti-Arab Anti-Muslim Racism: Support the Khalil Gibran International Academy and its founding Principal Debbie Almontaser

Communities in Support of the KGIA call upon the Department of Education to fairly consider Debbie Almontaser for the job of principal at KGIA

The Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) and the school’s founding principal, Debbie Almontaser, have endured a vicious anti-Arab and anti-Muslim smear campaign, which resulted in Ms. Almontaser’s forced resignation.

We call upon the Department of Education to fairly consider Debbie Almontaser for the job of principal at KGIA, to provide the school with the support that it needs to flourish, and we call upon all communities to stand with us in opposition to the forces of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim racism that continue to divide our city.

Background: What Happened?

KGIA opened as a small new school this year, with a focus on Arabic language and culture. The founding and visionary principal of this school was Debbie Almontaser, who worked to assemble a diverse & impressive design team and group of supporting community organizations. Ms. Almontaser is a highly qualified educator with a long and very visible history of work to promote dialogue, peace and tolerance in the community. Read more…

Support KGIA

Stand up with other New Yorkers and support Debbie Almontaser the Khalil Gibran International Academy:

1. The first statement is a general Statement of Support for KGIA,

2. The second statement is a call for an investigation of the events leading up to the resignation of founding principal, Debbie Almontaser. Sign this one as well as the first if you support Debbie’s reinstatement.

Coalition Sponsors

We are individuals and organizations from a multitude of communities and backgrounds, independent from the Department of Education, who have come together in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. We are made up the following sponsoring organizations: AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media, Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace)Center for Immigrant Families, Greater New York Labor-Religion CoaltionJews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), Muslim Consultative Network, and hundreds of endorsing organizations and individuals.

[Page Last Updated March 16, 2008]