Almontaser Said To Seek Return to Arab School

An educator who resigned as principal of the Arabic-language Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn wants her job back, a group close to her said this morning.

A spokeswoman for a coalition of groups formed to support Dhaba Almontaser, Erica Waples, said today that Ms. Almontaser intends to submit an application to replace a Jewish woman who does not speak Arabic, Danielle Salzberg, who has been acting temporarily as Khalil Gibran's principal.

"As far as I know, she plans to apply," Ms. Waples said.

Ms. Almontaser could call for her reinstatement during a news conference at City Hall later today, her first public appearance since she drew fire for making comments in support of T-shirts promoting an "intifada" in New York City. The appearance comes on the last day the Department of Education is accepting applications for a permanent principal at Khalil Gibran.

Ms. Almontaser's comments could also shed light on the circumstances of her resignation. In a letter sent in August to Chancellor Joel Klein, Ms. Almontaser wrote that she was leaving to protect her school, where she said students and parents were beginning to feel frightened by attacks from opponents. But supporters of the school say Ms. Almontaser was forced out of her job by the Bloomberg administration. Department of Education officials say Ms. Almontaser resigned voluntarily.

Ms. Waples said Ms. Almontaser intends to address today "what she's been going through in the past few months."

Khalil Gibran's program in Arabic language and culture, the first of its kind for a public school in the city, aroused concerns from public officials and community groups, some of whom called for the school to be shut down. One group, Stop the Madrassa, has criticized the school for not releasing its full curriculum and suggested it could become a breeding ground for terrorists.

In her resignation letter, Ms. Almontaser appeared to address the group, calling it "a small group of fear mongers."

Ms. Almontaser drew rebukes from city leaders including the president of the city teachers union, Randi Weingarten, and officials at the Anti-Defamation League after she described T-shirts promoting an "intifada" in New York City as "an opportunity for girls to express that they are part of New York City society… and shaking off oppression." She later recanted.

The T-shirts were made and sold by a group of female Arab American artists that leases space from a Yemeni association Ms. Almontaser founded. The group, Arab Women Active in Art and Media, has been a central backer of the coalition calling for Ms. Almontaser's reinstatement, along with some parents of children at Khalil Gibran and several Christian and Jewish groups.

Council Member John Liu is also scheduled to speak at this afternoon's press conference.