Debbie Almontaser is the former head of Khalil Gibran International Academy, New York City’s first Arabic-language public school. She’s currently seeking reinstatement as principal in the wake of controversy surrounding the school’s curriculum.
Compiled by Victoria Williams
May 6, 2008
Critics Target Arab American Educator
Debbie Almontaser dreamed of a school where Arab and non-Arab children would learn together. Instead, she found herself in the midst of a controversy about assimilation — one fueled by anti-Arab bias.
View the lesson based on the front page New York Times Article
BROADCAST EXCLUSIVE…Ousted NYC Arabic School Principal Debbie Almontaser Speaks Out on the New McCarthyism & Rightwing Media Attacks
Read the full transcript here!
Debbie Almontaser was forced to step down in August 2007 as the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran School, New York City’s first public school dedicated to the study of Arabic language and culture. Her resignation followed a rightwing campaign that painted her as an educator with a militant Islamic agenda. In a Democracy Now! exclusive, Debbie Almontaser joins us in her first national broadcast interview since stepping down and suing the city.
APPEALS COURT SENDS ARAB-AMERICAN EDUCATOR’S CASE BACK TO DISTRICT COURT FOR FULL TRIAL
District Court Told to Consider Whether Department of Education May Punish Debbie Almontaser Based on an Inaccurate and Misconstrued News Story
New York, NY March, 20, 2008: Today, the court of appeals declined to reverse the decision of a federal district court judge who had denied a preliminary injunction to the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, Debbie Almontaser. The court did not say that it agreed with the district judge, only that his decision was not “an abuse of discretion.”
In its opinion the appeals court made clear its concern that Ms. Almontaser was punished “for speaking accurately when her statement was, as her employer knows, inaccurately reported and then misconstrued by the press.” However, the court said that was an issue to be first addressed by the district court.
The case will now return to the district court for a full trial.
“It is evident from the judges’ opinion, as it was from their questioning of the DOE’s lawyer when the case was argued, that the court is troubled by the actions of the DOE in Ms. Almontaser case,” said Alan Levine, attorney for Ms. Almontaser. “The idea that people can lose their job because the press distorts what they say seems to disturb the court. It should disturb Chancellor Klein as well,” he added. “There is something fundamentally wrong when the DOE insists that school employees speak publicly on an issue and then fires them when they do no more than accurately define a controversial word.”
The district court originally denied Ms. Almontaser’s motion for a preliminary injunction in December 2007. The case was then appealed, and during the argument of the appeal, judges criticized the DOE for overreacting to what they called “garbling” of Ms. Almontaser’s words by a New York Post reporter.
In 2005, Ms. Almontaser was asked by New Visions for Public Schools, an educational reform organization that assists the DOE in establishing new schools, to spearhead the development of KGIA and then to become its founding principal.
KGIA was designed as a school that would focus on Arabic language and cultural studies, and, as one of its missions, would promote understanding between New York’s Arab and non-Arab communities.
Ms. Almontaser was initially named Project Director, the title that is given by the DOE to all persons who lead the development of a new school. In July 2007, the DOE named Ms. Almontaser the interim acting principal of the school, which is the title that leaders of new schools are customarily given until a permanent principal is selected. During that time Ms. Almontaser supervised the development of curriculum, hired and trained staff, recruited students and parents, purchased supplies, and prepared the school for its September opening.
As a result of a series of attacks on the school by a conservative blog and an article in the New York Post that quoted Ms. Almontaser on a matter completely unrelated to KGIA, the DOE forced her to resign her post and further, denied her the opportunity to apply for the job of permanent Principal.
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Pax Christi Metro New York Presents Local Peacemaker Award
March 16, 2008- All Pax Christi Metro New York’s Peacemaker Awards honor those whose efforts, vision, and spirit lead us on the way to peace. The following are the words of Pax Christi at this event.
The Sister Christine Mulready Local Peacemaker Award
This award is presented to a person or persons of faith whose work for peace and justice is helping to transform metropolitan New York into a community of peacemakers and justice-seekers. Sr. Christine Mulready was a founding member of Pax Christi Queens and the Sisters of St. Joseph Nonviolence Group. She served as Chairperson of PCMNY’s Council from 1993 to 1996 and was honored by PCMNY in 1998, but her legacy is much greater than that. Chris was a mentor and model for many PCMNY members. She was strong and gentle, courageous and compassionate, able to engage with equal respect and dignity all whom she encountered from a homeless squeegee man to a police officer to a Cardinal. She was often the calm in a storm, a woman of deep faith and love, wisdom and joy. Chris taught us how to live peace and how to die peacefully when cancer robbed us of her many gifts far too soon.
Debbie Almontaser, Sister Christine Mulready Local Peacemaker
Debbie Almontaser was born in Yemen and came to the United States when she was three. An Arab-American, her last name means to win or overcome, which she has striven to do, especially since September 11th, 2001, if by that we mean to win hearts and minds and to overcome fear and bigotry. Debbie was an elementary school teacher in a Brooklyn public school for several years. Then moved on to becoming a teacher trainer, but after 9/11, her work evolved into a well-developed multicultural program designed specifically to teach children, teachers, and families about Arabs and Islam and the importance of tolerance and respect. She is a multicultural specialist and diversity consultant and formerly a founding board member of the Dialogue Project. Debbie has also designed and facilitated teacher and public workshops on conflict resolution. She served as an advisor for Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. Muslim American Series and the PBS production of Muslims and the Prophet Muhammad curriculum, as well as an exhibit on Arab-Americans at the Museum of the City of New York. Debbie is also the go-to person by NYC politicians and the Interfaith Center of NYC.
Debbie co-founded the Children of Abraham Peace Walk in Brooklyn and organizes annual interfaith breakfasts with diverse groups. In 2006, she graced Pax Christi Metro New York with her knowledge and love of Islam as a participant on an interfaith panel. In 2007, she brought to birth the Khalil Gibran International Academy, an Arabic-English middle school in Brooklyn, to cultivate greater understanding and appreciation between cultures and to provide a vital means to peace.
The Award and Praise Given to Debbie
“Just as St. Francis and the Sultan, Malek al-Kamil, found common ground in their experiences of God through dialog, Pax Christi Metro New York has found common ground with you, Debbie, in our shared faith in a loving and merciful God. You have contributed richly to our interfaith dialog and helped us to know and understand much about your beautiful faith. And you have not only reached out to Pax Christi, but to all of New York City to teach, to open minds and hearts, and to break down barriers of fear and suspicion. You have helped lead people of New York so that we might walk together and pray together for peace with justice. You are a strong bridge among cultures and a guide in nonviolent conflict resolution, despite being forced to traverse some very hostile territory.
We so appreciate the dignity with which you have gifted all of us on our path to peace, and so we honor you.”
-Pax Christi Metro New York
Contact: David Lerner or Shonna Carter, Riptide Communications 212-260-5000
ARAB-AMERICAN EDUCATOR CHARGES NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WITH DISCRIMINATION
Former Founding Principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy Charges that The Doe Discriminated Against Her On The Basis Of Race, Religion, and National Origin
Also: School’s Math Teacher Says Leadership is Lacking without Almontaser and the Mission of the School Has Been Lost
March 3, 2008 – Today, Debbie Almontaser, a highly respected educator who was denied the opportunity to interview for the position of principal at the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) - the school she envisioned and designed - 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.
In a separate development Maysa Jarara, a math and Arabic teacher at the school, issued a statement decrying the lack of leadership at the school since Ms. Almontaser’s departure and charging the DOE with subverting the original vision of the school. (Attached.)
“The DOE’s demand for Almontaser’s resignation followed a relentless public relations assault that focused on her as an Arab and a Muslim. The DOE’s capitulation to those attacks constitutes, as a matter of law, discrimination by the DOE. The appointment of a patently less qualified white, non-Muslim woman was the final act of the DOE’s discriminatory conduct.” said Ms. Almontaser’s attorney Alan Levine
Last year, the DOE and the Mayor’s office forced Ms. Almontaser to resign from her position as founding principal of Khalil Gibran International Academy, New York’s first dual language school dedicated to teaching Arabic language and culture, under the premise that they would not open the school if she remained at its helm. Subsequently, after the school was opened, Ms. Almontaser was told by officials of the DOE’s Office of New Schools, that the administration would not support her return to the school.
At a recent argument in Ms. Almontaser’s lawsuit, U.S. Court of Appeals judges criticized the City for overreacting to what they called “garbling” of Ms. Almontaser’s words by a New York Post reporter.
In 2005, Ms. Almontaser was asked by New Visions for Public Schools, an educational reform organization that assists the DOE in establishing new schools, to spearhead the development of KGIA and then to become its founding principal.
KGIA was designed as a school that would focus on Arabic language and cultural studies, and, as one of its missions, would promote understanding between New York’s Arab and non-Arab communities.
Ms. Almontaser was initially named Project Director, the title that is given by the DOE to all persons who lead the development of a new school. In July 2007, the Department of Education named Ms. Almontaser the interim acting principal of the school, which is the title that leaders of new schools are customarily given until a permanent principal is selected. During that time Ms. Almontaser supervised the development of curriculum, hired and trained staff, recruited students and parents, purchased supplies, and prepared the school for its September opening.
As a result of a series of attacks on the school by a conservative blog and an article in the New York Post that quoted Ms. Almontaser on a matter completely unrelated to KGIA, the DOE forced her to resign her post and further, denied her the opportunity to apply for the job of permanent Principal.
Ms. Almontaser is asking the Court for an injunction compelling the DOE to interview her for the job of principal and for damages.
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November 19, 2007
By Jennifer Medina
Debbie Almontaser, the founding principal of the city’s first Arabic-language school, filed a federal lawsuit today [pdf] against the city’s Education Department, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, charging that they violated her right to free speech and “conspired to deny her the opportunity to regain her position as principal” of the school, the Khalil Gibran International Academy.
“Given her long history as a peace educator in New York City, and her vital role in coalition building post 9/11, the loss of Almontaser as principal of KGIA throws a shadow of shame on us all; what my mother, Rose Fine, a Jewish immigrant from Poland, would call a “shanda” –- a deep, penetrating shame that saturates the soul of our civic community.”
Ms. Almontaser resigned under pressure in August, after a furor that erupted after she was quoted in The New York Post defending the use of the word “intifada” on a T-shirt. Last month, Ms. Almontaser said that she was a victim of a right-wing smear campaign, that she had been forced to resign and that she would apply to get her job back. But Education Department officials said that they would not consider her application among the 25 others that were submitted at the time.
The Education Department did not respond immediately to a request for comment. Read more…
November 14, 2007
Dear Mr. Hughes and New Visions Board of Directors:
We, the steering committee of Communities In Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (CISKGIA), are writing to express our great dismay about the role New Visions has played with respect to Debbie Almontaser’s forced resignation from her position as founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA).
As educators, parents, and community advocates, we understand that New Visions’ role is to support newly created schools and their founding principals in myriad ways. Therefore, we do not understand why New Visions –as the school’s intermediary organization and as the school’s Partnership Support Organization– did not support Debbie Almontaser and KGIA after she was attacked as part of an ongoing anti-Arab and anti-Muslim campaign in the New York Post, the Sun, and by right wing-bloggers and groups like Stop the Madrassa. We do not understand why Debbie’s New Visions colleagues did not speak out publicly against those defaming her and the school. We do not understand why you, Mr. Hughes, demanded her resignation and told her you would not open the school if she did not resign.
Should progressive and committed educators know that, when there are attacks against them because of their race, ethnicity, or religion…they will be given the choice between resigning their job or seeing the end of the school they helped bring into existence?
Had New Visions, the Mayor, the DOE, and the UFT President responded to the racist and unfounded attacks and defended Ms. Almontaser and the school, she would still be principal. The New Visions role in forcing Ms. Almontaser’s resignation and your failure to confront those attacks by strongly speaking out in support of her allowed those attacks to go unchallenged by the city’s educational power-brokers. The most important losers are the students who attend the school, parents who chose to send their children to it because they were excited by its vision, and staff who applied to be part of a creative and unique new school. But others have lost as well, including concerned community members and all those committed to the equitable and high-quality public education that New Visions identifies as –but, in this instance, has failed to make–its priority.
What kind of a message does caving in to these right-wing pressures send to educators across New York City who are interested in establishing small schools with innovative themes? Should progressive and committed educators know that, when there are attacks against them because of their race, ethnicity, or religion– or because they see mention of a controversial word or idea as a teachable moment rather than cause for a knee-jerk, uninformed response– they will be given the choice between resigning their job or seeing the end of the school they helped bring into existence?
Though we appreciate the support that New Visions offers the Khalil Gibran International Academy, we strongly believe that the role your organization has played in forcing Debbie Almontaser’s resignation has been a tremendous disappointment to the educational community and undermines the small school movement and the struggle for justice, equity, and innovation in public education.
We urge you both to publicly support the reinstatement of Debbie Almontaser to her position as acting interim principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy and to call for the Department of Education to consider her unmatched qualifications as an applicant in the C-30 process for appointment as permanent principal. As you know, she will be filing a lawsuit in the near future. The public will want to see if New Visions will take the high road by supporting this brave and innovative educator.
COMMUNITIES IN SUPPORT OF KHALIL GIBRAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
For more information about CISKGIA, visit http://kgia.wordpress.com.
CISKGIA representatives appear on Law and Disorder on WBAI radio. Tune in at 10am on Monday, November 12th. Listen Now!
Event to celebrate those who have taken risks for social justice in the face of fear and prejudice
[Watch Debbie Almontaser's acceptance of the award here now! Part I and Part II]
[Read JFREJ's position on Debbie Almontaser...]
NEW YORK CITY— On October 18, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ) will present the 11th Annual Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Awards to educator Debbie Almontaser, distinguished poet and activist Adrienne Rich, community organizer and literary agent Frances Goldin, and the New York City AIDS Housing Network.
“Whether through poetry, direct action in the street, education, or organizing, all of our honorees have served as extraordinary agents for change,” said JFREJ Executive Director Dara Silverman.
This year, JFREJ extends special recognition to long-time ally Debbie Almontaser, the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, who in recent months has been targeted by powerful anti-Muslim and anti-Arab voices in our city. Almontaser has committed her life to supporting Arab, Muslim, and interfaith communities and promoting a Muslim commitment to peace and justice. After 9/11, she was a key partner with JFREJ in building bridges between Jewish and Muslim communities.
“As Jews, we stand against hate-mongering in all its forms,” said Silverman. “Many Jewish groups honored Debbie before, but we wanted to send a clear message that our support for her has not wavered and we reject the smear campaign that was waged against her this summer.”
The Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Awards honors those in the Jewish and progressive communities who take personal risks in the fight for social justice. The awards are named for Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer (1930-1993), founding rabbi of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York City, who spoke out against the military dictatorship in Argentina, worked in support of Israeli-Palestinian peace, and opposed oppression wherever he encountered it.
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) is a membership-based organization founded in 1990. JFREJ engages Jews to pursue and win racial and economic justice in partnership with Jewish and allied people of color, low-income and immigrant communities in New York City. To learn more about Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, go to www.jfrej.org.
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