Debbie Almontaser
Encyclopedia
Debbie Almontaser is a Muslim teacher of Yemen
i 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
.
, at universities, libraries, museums, churches, and synagogues across the city and at local, national and international conferences.
Almontaser co-designed a curriculum for the Muslim Communities Project at Columbia University
and for Educators for Social Responsibility/Metro. In addition, she has contributed a chapter in The Day Our World Changed: Children's Art of 9/11 for New York University
's Child Study Center and the Museum of the City of New York
and in Forever After: New York City Teachers on 9/11 for Teachers College Press as well as articles and essays in several magazines. Almontaser also serves as a consultant to Nickelodeon
's Nick Jr. Muslim American Series Project, Independent Production Fund on the Islam Project (producers of Muslims and Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet PBS Productions), Islam Access Project (Channel 13 WNET), the Muslim Communities Project, Columbia University, Educators for Social Responsibility, the Interfaith Center of NYC, and the Church Avenue Merchants Block Association's (CAMBA, Inc.) Diversity Project. Almontaser was a member of the steering committee for A Community of Many Worlds: Arab-Americans at the Museum of the City of New York. In 2005, Almontaser spearheaded the inauguration of Arab Heritage Week in New York City. She is also the go to person on cultural and religious diversity issues for Borough President Marty Markowitz
, the Mayor’s office of Immigrant Affairs, New York Police Department and City Council Members David Yassky
, Bill DeBlasio
and John Liu
among others.
Almontaser is a founding board member of The Dialogue Project, Brooklyn Borough President's New Diversity Task Force, board advisor for the Same Difference Interfaith Alliance, Youth Bridge NY, and a member of the board of directors of Women in Islam, Muslim Consultative Network and Saba: The Association of Yemeni Americans. She is also a cofounder of Brooklyn Bridges, the September 11th Curriculum Project, and We Are All Brooklyn.
, was "apparently a call for a Gaza-style uprising
in the Big Apple
". In an interview with The Post, Almontaser was asked for the Arabic root word of the word Intifada. Almontaser, who was accompanied on the phone by a Dept of Education press expert, 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 question stating the girls at AWAAM are planning a Gaza-style uprising, 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). The "it's" in her statement is referring to the training the girls were getting at this youth program.
Almontaser denied using the phrase "shaking off oppression," and a federal appeals court ruled that the Post had quoted her “incorrectly and misleadingly.”
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."
On August 9, 2007 Randi Weingartend president of the New York City teachers' union, wrote a letter to the Post agreeing with the editorial and calling for Almontaser's head. New Visions for Public Schools, Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg demanded Almontaser's resignation by 8 AM the next morning threatening to nix the school if she didn't resign. The full account was highlighted in the front page New York Times article "Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream Job".
. Almontaser has twice been profiled on Voice of America
as an accomplished Muslim American." Though media sources have sometimes misquoted Almontaser and misrepresented the facts, there have been numerous interviews directly with Almontaser which have allowed her to tell her story. Some examples are her recent interviews on National Public Radio's the Brian Lehrer Show, and Democracy Now!
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."
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 Almontaser."
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 Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (CISKGIA) formed in order to show support for the school as well as Almontaser's rights. This group has mantained that that KGIA requires better support from the Department of Education and New Visions in order to succeed, and has also been a strong voice for Debbie Almontaser's reinstatement throughout this controversy. CISKGIA organized well attended press conferences and press releases in order to get the truth out. It also organized an event celebrating the original vision of the school on January 29, 2008 where a few hundred people attended to support Debbie Almontaser's and the school she envision with her design team who were honored that evening., and maintains an informational website at http://kgia.wordpress.com/. In 2011 this group noted with disappointment the down-sizing of the school as a sign of the lack of political support it had warned about. http://kgia.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/the-slow-death-of-khalil-gibran-international-academy-gotham-schools/
A film called Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech
from HBO Films uses Almontaser's case as an example of a violation of the 1st Amendment rights.
that the First Amendment does not apply to public employees in the pursuit of their official duties.
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. The judge rejected Amontaser's claim.
In March, 2010, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) ruled that 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 will not sue the Department of Education, citing the personal costs of pursuing a lawsuit over a number of years.
, 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.
She has conducted sensitivity training and presentations in Churches, Synagogues and other houses of worship. Almontaser has also worked as a liaison between the Muslim community and the NYPD. 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
.
Almontaser has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Pax Christi Metro New York 2008 Peacemaker Award, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice's annual Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Award in 2007.
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
i descent who was the founding principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy
Khalil Gibran International Academy
The Khalil Gibran International Academy is a public school in Brooklyn, New York City, New York that opened in September 2007 with about 60 sixth grade students...
, a New York Arab-themed public school, named after the Christian Arab poet, Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran
Khalil Gibran Jubrān Khalīl Jubrān,Jibrān Khalīl Jibrān, or Jibrān Xalīl Jibrān; Arabic , January 6, 1883 – April 10, 1931) also known as Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer...
.
Biography
Debbie Almontaser is the founding and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. As a 20-year veteran of the NYC public school system, she has taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy, and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Almontaser frequently lectures and serves on panels as well as facilitates teacher and public workshops on conflict resolution, Agusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed, Arab culture, and IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, at universities, libraries, museums, churches, and synagogues across the city and at local, national and international conferences.
Almontaser co-designed a curriculum for the Muslim Communities Project at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and for Educators for Social Responsibility/Metro. In addition, she has contributed a chapter in The Day Our World Changed: Children's Art of 9/11 for New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Child Study Center and the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
and in Forever After: New York City Teachers on 9/11 for Teachers College Press as well as articles and essays in several magazines. Almontaser also serves as a consultant to Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
's Nick Jr. Muslim American Series Project, Independent Production Fund on the Islam Project (producers of Muslims and Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet PBS Productions), Islam Access Project (Channel 13 WNET), the Muslim Communities Project, Columbia University, Educators for Social Responsibility, the Interfaith Center of NYC, and the Church Avenue Merchants Block Association's (CAMBA, Inc.) Diversity Project. Almontaser was a member of the steering committee for A Community of Many Worlds: Arab-Americans at the Museum of the City of New York. In 2005, Almontaser spearheaded the inauguration of Arab Heritage Week in New York City. She is also the go to person on cultural and religious diversity issues for Borough President Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz is the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City, the most populous borough in New York City with nearly 2.6 million residents. Markowitz was first elected borough president in 2001 after serving 23 years as a New York State Senator...
, the Mayor’s office of Immigrant Affairs, New York Police Department and City Council Members David Yassky
David Yassky
David S. Yassky is a former member of the New York City Council. First elected in 2001, he represented the 33rd Council District, which includes parts of downtown Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Heights, Greenpoint, Williamsburg, DUMBO, Boerum Hill and Park Slope.Yassky is a graduate of Princeton...
, Bill DeBlasio
Bill DeBlasio
Bill de Blasio is a New York City elected official, holding the citywide office of New York City Public Advocate, which serves as an ombudsman between the electorate and the city government...
and John Liu
John Liu
John Chun Liu is a New York City elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller. Liu previously served on the New York City Council representing District 20...
among others.
Almontaser is a founding board member of The Dialogue Project, Brooklyn Borough President's New Diversity Task Force, board advisor for the Same Difference Interfaith Alliance, Youth Bridge NY, and a member of the board of directors of Women in Islam, Muslim Consultative Network and Saba: The Association of Yemeni Americans. She is also a cofounder of Brooklyn Bridges, the September 11th Curriculum Project, and We Are All Brooklyn.
Criticism of Almontaser
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 a group called "Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media", an organization that used office space to run its youth program at Saba: Association of Yemeni American which Almontaser is a board member. The T-shirt had the words, "Intifada NYC" on it, which, according to the New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, was "apparently a call for a Gaza-style uprising
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
in the Big Apple
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
". In an interview with The Post, Almontaser was asked for the Arabic root word of the word Intifada. Almontaser, who was accompanied on the phone by a Dept of Education press expert, 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 question stating the girls at AWAAM are planning a Gaza-style uprising, 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
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
society . . . and shaking off oppression." (ellipses in original). The "it's" in her statement is referring to the training the girls were getting at this youth program.
Almontaser denied using the phrase "shaking off oppression," and a federal appeals court ruled that the Post had quoted her “incorrectly and misleadingly.”
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."
On August 9, 2007 Randi Weingartend president of the New York City teachers' union, wrote a letter to the Post agreeing with the editorial and calling for Almontaser's head. New Visions for Public Schools, Chancellor Klein and Mayor Bloomberg demanded Almontaser's resignation by 8 AM the next morning threatening to nix the school if she didn't resign. The full account was highlighted in the front page New York Times article "Critics Cost Muslim Educator Her Dream Job".
Support for Almontaser
In a New York Times 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 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 LeagueAnti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
. Almontaser has twice been profiled on Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
as an accomplished Muslim American." Though media sources have sometimes misquoted Almontaser and misrepresented the facts, there have been numerous interviews directly with Almontaser which have allowed her to tell her story. Some examples are her recent interviews on National Public Radio's the Brian Lehrer Show, and Democracy Now!
Local politicians like Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
Borough President, Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz
Marty Markowitz is the Borough President of Brooklyn, New York City, the most populous borough in New York City with nearly 2.6 million residents. Markowitz was first elected borough president in 2001 after serving 23 years as a New York State Senator...
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
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
and other religions together."
Additionally, Councilman John Liu
John Liu
John Chun Liu is a New York City elected official, currently serving as New York City Comptroller. Liu previously served on the New York City Council representing District 20...
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."
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 Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (CISKGIA) formed in order to show support for the school as well as Almontaser's rights. This group has mantained that that KGIA requires better support from the Department of Education and New Visions in order to succeed, and has also been a strong voice for Debbie Almontaser's reinstatement throughout this controversy. CISKGIA organized well attended press conferences and press releases in order to get the truth out. It also organized an event celebrating the original vision of the school on January 29, 2008 where a few hundred people attended to support Debbie Almontaser's and the school she envision with her design team who were honored that evening., and maintains an informational website at http://kgia.wordpress.com/. In 2011 this group noted with disappointment the down-sizing of the school as a sign of the lack of political support it had warned about. http://kgia.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/the-slow-death-of-khalil-gibran-international-academy-gotham-schools/
A film called Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech
Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech
Shouting Fire: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech is a 2009 documentary film about freedom of speech and the First Amendment in the United States, directed by Liz Garbus. The documentary prominently features First Amendment attorney, Martin Garbus, who talks about the past and present state of...
from HBO Films uses Almontaser's case as an example of a violation of the 1st Amendment rights.
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. 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. On March 20, the Appeals court rejected her request and sent it back to the trial court. The judgement cited that when she was instructed to speak to the press, she was mandated not to speak about the t-shirts. She had made statements during the phone call “I think [the t-shirts are] pretty much an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society.” However, the reason the claim was rejected is due to the precedent set in the much dissented Garcetti v. CeballosGarcetti v. Ceballos
Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 , is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States involving the First Amendment free speech protections for government employees. The plaintiff in the case was a district attorney who claimed that he had been passed up for a promotion for criticizing the...
that the First Amendment does not apply to public employees in the pursuit of their official duties.
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. The judge rejected Amontaser's claim.
In March, 2010, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
(EEOC) ruled that 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 will not sue the Department of Education, citing the personal costs of pursuing a lawsuit over a number of years.
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 BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, 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.
She has conducted sensitivity training and presentations in Churches, Synagogues and other houses of worship. Almontaser has also worked as a liaison between the Muslim community and the NYPD. Her son spent months at the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
site as a member of the Army National Guard
Army National Guard
Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
and her cousins have served the US Military in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Almontaser has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Pax Christi Metro New York 2008 Peacemaker Award, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice's annual Rabbi Marshall T. Meyer Risk-Taker Award in 2007.
Sources
External links
- http://monthlyreview.org/2011/07/01/khalil-gibran-international-academy, Monthly ReviewMonthly ReviewMonthly Review is an independent Marxist journal published 11 times per year in New York City.-History:The publication was founded by Harvard University economics instructor Paul Sweezy, who became the first editor...
article, The Story of Khalil Gibran International Academy: Racism and a Campaign of Resistance by Debbie Almontaser and Donna Nevel - http://www.thenation.com/article/new-mccarthyism, Nation MagazineThe NationThe Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
article by Lary Cohler about New McCarthyism & Almontaser. - http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/tag/larry-cohler-esses-jewish-week/, Richard Silverstein on Almontaser & Jews.
- http://www.mcnny.org, Board Chair, Muslim Consultative Network.
- Debbie Almontaser, Board of Directors, the Association of Yemeni-Americans.
- Debbie Almontaser, The CURE Community Leaders.
- Debbie Almontaser, Owen Consulting.
- Debbie Almontaser, Cultural Diversity Consultant, YouthBridge–NY.
- Debbie Almontaser, ZoomInfoZoomInfoZoomInfo is a vertical search engine focused on people, companies, and the relationships among them.-Overview:Zoom Information Inc. was founded by Jonathan Stern in 2000 as Eliyon Technologies. The company’s investors include Venrock Associates and Vulcan Capital.The site powers people searches for...
Profile - Federal Panel Finds NY Dept. of Education Discriminated Against Almontaser - video by Democracy Now!Democracy Now!Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...