Debbie Almontaser, who resigned as principal of the Khalil Gibran Arabic culture academy, wants her job back.
No way, says Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
Good for Klein.
Almontaser yesterday formally applied to get her old post back at Khalil Gibran International Academy - which is devoted to the study of Arabic culture and language - with a City Hall press conference.
She declared herself "the target of a campaign of hatred and bigotry."
In point of fact, her problem was her inability to speak honestly about T-shirts printed with an "Intifada NYC" design and sold by a Muslim women's group associated with an organization upon whose board she sat.
She defined "intifada" as meaning only "shaking off oppression."
Which is patent nonsense, and wholly unacceptable coming from a principal of a public school in New York City.
Which, happily, she no longer is.
Said the Department of Education: "In August, Ms. Almontaser said she resigned as principal from Khalil Gibran International Academy to protect the stability of the school and give it 'the full opportunity to flourish.' The chancellor agreed with her decision, accepted her resignation and now considers the matter closed."
Now she's floating conspiracy theories, wondering what Mayor Bloomberg and Klein are "hiding" by refusing to meet with her.
And she says she's suing the city.
Fine. She can get in line.
She may still be a DOE employee - but she won't be running anywhere near the academy. Again, good.
As the department said: Case closed.