A curriculum director in the School District of Philadelphia publicly posted tributes to Assata Shakur, a convicted murderer and fugitive, prompting scrutiny over the appropriateness of such messages from public-school leadership. The incident has raised questions about professional conduct, the boundaries of personal expression, and how educators’ public statements reflect on school systems serving diverse communities.
Ismael Jimenez, director of social studies curriculum for the district, published posts on social media honoring Shakur, a former member of the Black Liberation Army convicted in the 1973 killing of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. Shakur escaped prison in 1979 and remains on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Jimenez’s posts included Shakur quotes and her photograph, which was briefly used as his profile image.
One of his posts quoted Shakur stating: “If we do not take ourselves seriously and we do not take our movement seriously then we’ll have to hang our heads in front of our ancestors.” Another included a quote criticizing American schools as tools of capitalist training rather than centers of education. These statements were posted in late September.
The School District of Philadelphia has not issued a comment or public response regarding the posts. Jimenez’s role involves oversight of social studies instruction districtwide, including shaping educational material and guiding policy in classrooms that serve tens of thousands of students.
The situation has prompted debate about whether public employees in educational leadership should publicly honor individuals convicted of violent crimes, particularly those still considered fugitives. Supporters may argue that educators have a right to political expression, while critics contend that public officials should avoid promoting figures associated with violence or anti-government ideologies, particularly in roles that influence youth education.
