Federal judge dismisses reassigned principal's lawsuit against Texas school district

Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Aug 28, 2026

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FORT WORTH, Texas — A federal First Amendment lawsuit filed by a former Fort Worth Independent School District principal against the school district was dismissed Thursday after an ongoing battle over her reassignment, which stemmed from an investigation into her social media posts.

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman issued an opinion and order marking the end of a lawsuit filed in June by Shayma Alzubi, who was reassigned as a principal program administrator after facing backlash from her social media posts explaining Shariah law and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement.

The reassignment came days after she was announced as principal of Western Hills High School in May. In the lawsuit, she alleged the district violated her free speech and discriminated against her because of her Muslim religion.

On Thursday, Pittman stated that personnel matters of public agencies, such as local school districts, do not rise to the level of federal judicial review.

“The facts alleged by Ms. Alzubi, while perhaps indicative of personal trials Alzubi has faced in her career as an educator, do not rise to the level of a constitutional deprivation. Federal courts are not the appropriate forum for school administration,” Pittman wrote.

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