103:". She explained that the word "comes from the root word that means 'shaking off'. That is the root word if you look it up in Arabic." To a follow-up comment that the girls at AWAAM are planning a Gaza-style uprising, she 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 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
243:(EEOC) ruled Almontaser had been unfairly discriminated against and urged the Department of Education to consider reinstating Almontaser, paying her backwages, legal fees, and damages of $ 300,000. Despite the findings of the EEOC, Almontaser announced that she would not sue the Department of Education, citing the personal costs of pursuing a lawsuit over a number of years.
197:(CISKGIA) formed in order to show support for the school as well as Almontaser's rights. The group maintains that KGIA requires more and better support from the Department of Education and New Visions in order to succeed, and it was a strong voice for Debbie Almontaser's reinstatement throughout the controversy.
227:
in New York to grant her a preliminary injunction to force the board of education to give her an interview for the job of principal. On March 20, the court rejected her request and sent it back to the trial court. The judgment cited that when she was instructed to speak to the press, she was mandated
46:
Almontaser founded and is a former principal of the Khalil Gibran
International Academy. A veteran of New York City's public school system, she taught special education, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. She co-designed a curriculum for the
200:
CISKGIA organized an event celebrating the original vision of the school on
January 29, 2008, in which a few hundred people attended to support Almontaser and the school that she envision with her design team that were honored that evening, and maintains an informational website. In 2011, the group
235:
On March 3, 2008, 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. The judge rejected
219:
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
111:
Shortly thereafter, the NYC Board of
Education issued the following statement on Almontaser's behalf, purportedly without her authorization: "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
107:
society... and shaking off oppression." The "it's" in her statement referred to the training the girls received at this youth program. She denied using the phrase "shaking off oppression" and a federal appeals court ruled that the Post had quoted her "incorrectly and misleadingly."
257:, 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 interethnic initiative supported by the Jewish Community Relations Council, to combat
192:
Along with local politicians, there was an outpouring of community support for
Almontaser, with hundreds of individuals and organizations signing statements in support of Almontaser and the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA). A diverse community group called
762:"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)"
136:
article, journalism professor Samuel G. Freedman wrote, "For anyone who bothered to look for it, Almontaser left a clear, public record of interfaith activism and outreach across the boundaries of race, ethnicity and religion. Her efforts, especially after the
228:
not to speak about the T-shirts. She had made statements during the phone call such as "I think pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society." Her claim was reportedly rejected based on the precedent-setting "
123:(the NYC teachers' union), as well as Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg, demanded Almontaser's resignation by 8:00 the next morning threatening to nix the school if she did not resign. The full account was highlighted in a frontpage
82:, an organization that ran its youth program from office space at Saba: The Association of Yemeni Americans, of which Almontaser is a board member. The T-shirt had the words, "Intifada NYC" on it, which, according to the
701:
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,
761:
793:
268:
Almontaser has conducted sensitivity training and presentations in
Churches, Synagogues and other houses of worship. She also has worked as a liaison between the Muslim community and the
189:
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 Almontaser."
174:
expressed support for
Almontaser, calling for her to be reinstated, noting Almontaser "was dumped on, and she doesn't deserve it" and that he has "witnessed her work, bringing
431:
502:""Ousted NYC Arabic School Principal Debbie Almontaser Speaks Out on the New McCarthyism & Rightwing Media Attacks", interview on Democracy Now!, April 29, 2008"
362:
612:
203:
78:
Almontaser was forced by the Department of Education and the Mayor of the City of New York to resign after a controversy arose over a T-shirt created by
878:
522:
476:
800:
1054:
1034:
341:
768:
1039:
678:
348:, 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.
224:
201:
noted with disappointment the downsizing of the school as a sign of the lack of political support about which it had warned. A film called
301:
160:
In 2004 Almontaser received the Revson Fellowship award for her contributions to City life. Almontaser told her story in her own words on
1029:
1024:
265:'s anti-bias program, "A World of Difference", as a facilitator for diversity training and inter-group dynamics in the public schools.
652:
1059:
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638:
27:
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232:", which said that the First Amendment does not apply to public employees in the pursuit of their official duties.
313:
748:
60:
729:"Press Release, EDUCATOR TO ASK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS TO UPHOLD HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, February 1, 2008"
141:, earned her honors, grants and fellowships. She has collaborated so often with Jewish organizations that an
120:
981:
582:
882:
853:
1003:
480:
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The t-shirt and its organization had no ties to the school or Almontaser as the school's principal.
149:, castigated her earlier this summer for being too close to a 'Zionist organization,' meaning the
51:
and for Educators for Social Responsibility/Metro. In addition, she has contributed a chapter in
903:
824:"Arab-American Educator Charges NYC Department of Education with Discrimination" (press release)
545:
457:
388:"Battle in Brooklyn: A Principal's Rise and Fall; Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream School"
314:"U.S. Muslims Fear Hate Crimes & Overreaction by Law Enforcement in Wake of Chelsea Bombing"
1044:
949:
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice website: "11th Annual Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Awards"
262:
150:
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338:
183:
161:
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8:
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In an interview with the same newspaper, she was asked the Arabic root word of the word "
56:
48:
567:
989:
The Story of Khalil Gibran International Academy: Racism and a Campaign of Resistance
994:
211:
uses Almontaser's case as an example of a violation of the First Amendment rights.
154:
116:
70:
As of September 2016, Almontaser is the president of the Muslim Community Network.
955:
925:
345:
171:
67:
for Teachers College Press as well as articles and essays in several magazines.
1008:
984:
339:"Principal at New NYC Arabic-Language School Forced to Resign", August 13, 2007
317:
132:
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31:
794:"Docket No. 07-5468-cv, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT"
1018:
142:
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93:
84:
35:
100:
948:
1004:
Federal Panel Finds NY Dept. of Education Discriminated Against Almontaser
276:
258:
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835:"Principal's Comments to Press Were Not Protected Speech" by Mark Walsh
997:
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728:
523:"Beep backs Arabic school, urges controversial principal be reinstated"
711:
406:
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195:
Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy
175:
302:"From Yemen to Coney Island; From Teacher to Community Activist"
653:"Event to Celebrate the Vision of KGIA is a Resounding Success"
1000:
article by Lary Cohler about New McCarthyism & Almontaser.
23:
665:
458:"On Education: Critics Ignored Record Of a Muslim Principal"
269:
179:
749:
NY appeals court rejects claim by Arabic school principal
699:
Almontaser v. New York City Department of Education et al
407:"Arab School Principal Says She Regrets Intifada Remarks"
639:"Educators: Mayor Forced Arabic School Principal's Exit"
30:, a New York Arab-themed public school, named after the
679:"The Slow Death of Khalil Gibran International Academy"
246:
127:
article, "Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream Job".
22:
is an American schoolteacher and community activist of
926:"Commonweal Magazine: "Debbie Almontaser, Peacemaker""
477:"interview on The Brian Lehrer Show, NPR, May 7, 2008"
283:'s Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Award, in 2007.
279:
Metro New York 2008 Peacemaker Award, and the annual
712:"Ex-Arabic School Head Readies Lawsuit Against City"
204:
Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech
751:, AP, International Herald Tribune, March 20, 2008
223:On February 5, 2008, Almontaser requested for the
904:"Teacher Works for Understanding of U.S. Muslims"
53:The Day Our World Changed: Children's Art of 9/11
1016:
26:descent. She was the founding principal of the
879:"The Jewish Week article on Debbie Almontaser"
854:"Ex-Principal of Arabic School Won't Sue City"
360:
297:
295:
65:Forever After: New York City Teachers on 9/11
432:"Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream Job"
225:U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
356:
354:
292:
214:
847:
845:
611:Communities in Support of KGIA website.
596:Communities in Support of KGIA website.
581:Communities in Support of KGIA website.
568:"Support for Debbie Almontaser and KGIA"
566:Communities in Support of KGIA website.
455:
351:
153:. Almontaser has twice been profiled on
456:Freedman, Samuel G. (August 29, 2007).
429:
385:
241:Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
164:(Brian Lehrer Show) and Democracy Now!
80:Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
1017:
851:
842:
16:American schoolteacher & principal
1055:21st-century American women educators
1035:New York City Department of Education
923:
676:
598:"Muslim & Arab Community on KGIA"
539:
404:
220:violated her First Amendment rights.
157:as an accomplished Muslim American."
1040:Schoolteachers from New York (state)
991:by Debbie Almontaser and Donna Nevel
876:
837:The School Law Blog (Education Week)
281:Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
247:Personal life and community activism
182:and other religions together." Then
881:. Thejewishweek.com. Archived from
28:Khalil Gibran International Academy
13:
430:Elliott, Andrea (April 28, 2008).
386:Elliott, Andrea (April 28, 2008).
261:in Brooklyn. She trained with the
14:
1071:
1030:Public education in New York City
1025:American people of Yemeni descent
975:
852:Medina, Jennifer (May 25, 2010).
636:
474:
731:. Kgia.wordpress.com. 2008-02-01
1060:21st-century American educators
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529:. New York. September 20, 2007.
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405:Green, Elizabeth (2007-08-07).
363:"City Principal Is 'Revolting'"
88:, was "apparently a call for a
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449:
423:
398:
379:
331:
306:
73:
61:Museum of the City of New York
59:'s Child Study Center and the
47:Muslim Communities Project at
1:
1050:Muslims from New York (state)
924:Moses, Paul (March 5, 2008).
286:
121:United Federation of Teachers
112:opposite of my life's work."
361:Chuck Bennett (2007-08-06).
41:
7:
344:September 11, 2007, at the
10:
1076:
963:
954:November 18, 2007, at the
479:. Wnyc.org. Archived from
583:"Jewish Leaders on KGIA"
275:Almontaser received the
184:New York City Councilman
215:Subsequent legal action
930:Commonwealmagazine.org
263:Anti-Defamation League
151:Anti-Defamation League
544:. NY1. Archived from
162:National Public Radio
681:. Kgia.wordpress.com
677:Staff (2011-04-20).
540:Staff (2007-10-16).
320:. September 20, 2016
236:Almontaser's claim.
230:Garcetti v. Ceballos
139:September 11 attacks
839:, September 7, 2009
239:In March 2010, the
170:Borough President,
119:, then Head of the
115:On August 9, 2007,
90:Gaza-style uprising
57:New York University
49:Columbia University
858:The New York Times
718:, October 17, 2007
666:kgia.wordpress.com
637:Green, Elizabeth.
504:. Democracynow.org
462:The New York Times
436:The New York Times
392:The New York Times
906:. NPR. 2006-07-13
251:According to the
20:Debbie Almontaser
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1006:- video by
277:Pax Christi
259:hate crimes
254:Jewish Week
145:newspaper,
74:Controversy
1019:Categories
935:2013-09-28
910:2013-09-28
889:2013-09-28
863:2010-05-26
810:2010-04-14
735:2013-09-28
685:2013-09-28
623:2008-08-06
552:2013-09-28
527:Daily News
508:2013-09-28
487:2013-09-28
416:2007-11-21
372:2007-11-21
324:2016-09-28
287:References
987:article,
778:March 21,
209:HBO Films
94:Big Apple
42:Biography
970:AOL news
952:Archived
342:Archived
187:John Liu
168:Brooklyn
101:intifada
964:Sources
475:Staff.
176:Muslims
147:Aramica
92:in the
63:and in
441:May 1,
24:Yemeni
804:(PDF)
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772:(PDF)
765:(PDF)
207:from
130:In a
34:poet
780:2008
702:2007
443:2010
270:NYPD
180:Jews
178:and
55:for
96:".
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