Hunterdon Central teacher claims she was fired because she is Muslim

• Steffner: "The statements attributed to me are factually wrong, and may even be defamatory."
• Suit claims school officials complained about teacher's use of a video about Malala Yusufazi

FLEMINGTON - A former U.S. history teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School has filed suit in federal court claiming that her contract was not renewed because she is a Muslim.

Sireen Hashem alleges in the 17-page lawsuit that on Sept. 11, 2014, she was told by Superintendent Christina Steffner that Hashem  had "caused trouble because she was Palestinian" since she started working at the high school in September 2013, according to the lawsuit which also contends that a "local rabbi and several parents" had contacted the school to have the teacher fired.

"Neither the district nor I have been served with a complaint, but I have read some of Ms. Hashem's allegations against me in the media. I respect the personnel confidentiality rights of all employees, and it would be inappropriate for me to publicly comment about job performance or personnel matters," Steffner said on Thursday.

"However, I want to very clearly state that Ms. Hashem's allegations against me are untrue," Steffner said. "I have never made a personnel decision based on any improper purpose. The statements attributed to me are factually wrong, and may even be defamatory."

The superintendent said the district will fight the allegations in court.

"It is unfortunate that the district and I will have to defend this case but will do so vigorously so that the real facts may be presented in court," Steffner continued.  "After an appropriate review of the allegations, further comments may be provided."

In the meeting with Hashem, Steffner referred to Hashem's classroom use in October 2013 of a video about Malala Yusufazi, the teenage Pakistani activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace prize for her human rights campaign after being targeted for assassination by the Taliban.

Hashem showed the video in her class after she saw another history teacher, Lindsay Warren, using the video. When Hashem asked why Wagner was allowed to use the video, Steffner said, "You're not Lindsay," the suit said.

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After she showed the video, Robert Zywicki, her supervisor, told her the school had received a complaint about the video from a parent. Zywick then told her "she could not teach current events in the same manner as her non-Arab, non-Palestinian and non-Muslim colleagues," the lawsuit says.

Steffner and high school Principal Suzanne Cooley told Hashem on Sept. 9, 2014, that she was not sticking to the curriculum, questioned her about her teaching and accused her of discriminating against Jewish students, the suit says.

Steffner and Cooley also questioned Hashmeh about her place of birth, her family and her personal life, according to the suit.

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Nine months later in April 2015, Rebecca Lucas, who became Hashem's supervisor after Zywicki left, told her that her contract was not going to be renewed because Steffner and Cooley "wanted her gone," the suit states.

Lucas also handed Hashem a poor evaluation and told her that was the reason she was not going to be given a new contract, according to the lawsuit.

Two months later, Hashem went to the school board to overturn the decision not to renew her contract. About 60 students and parents came to the meeting to support her, but the board did not override the recommendation.

In mid-July, two FBI agents came to Hashem's home in the Kingston section of Franklin (Somerset) and told her they had heard that Hashem said at the June meeting that "they would be sorry" if she was fired.

Hashem denied making the statements to the FBI agents.

In her lawsuit, Hashem said that because the meeting was in executive session, the "erroneous and defamatory allegation" must have come from a board member.

The lawsuit also claims that Cooley told her in May 2014 that she should not mention Islam or the Middle East in her class after she asked students to compare the actions of John Brown at Harper's Ferry to the actions of Osama bin Laden on Sept. 11, 2001.

Cooley also told Hashem not to bring "her culture, life experience or background into the classroom."

The lawsuit also alleges that a high school student, who was not in any of her classes, posted on Facebook allegations that Hashem's brother was a terrorist and that she was anti-Israel, attempted to instill anti-Semetic views in her students.

The student also warned that Hashem "may hurt" students who did not agree with her, according to the suit.

The students' parents had previously complained about a book, "The Lemon Tree," used in another class. Though it was not her class, Hashem was asked to participate in the class and the parents complained about that.

"The Lemon Tree" is a book that tells the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the eyes of two families. Critics have charged that the book is anti-Semetic.

On the day after that was posted, Hashem was confronted by the superintendent and the principal.

Hashem is asking for the school district to give her job back, reimburse her for back pay, benefits and pension payments and compensatory damages. Hashem was making $60,525 a year.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com