As the sun began its descent into the evening sky, parents filed in through the gates of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) for Back to School Night. Under the cloudy gray sky, these adults, once teenagers, returned to a high school campus to get a feel for the atmosphere of Foothill Tech, the late afternoon breeze of Sept. 18, 2025, flowing around them.
Back to School Night is an annual opportunity for parents to step into their students’ shoes and take a walk in them, experiencing Foothill Tech from a student’s point of view, while also allowing parents to meet the educators who will guide their children throughout the school year. This event provides parents with a glimpse into their child’s school life, with classroom visits being a highlight of the night.
The night began at 5:45 p.m. with a parent social where people could mingle and meet one another. Around Foothill Tech’s quad, booths were set up with representatives from various programs that Dragons participate in, including the Bioscience Academy, DTech Academy, Associated Student Body (ASB) and Yearbook. Parents meandered and took a look at the different opportunities offered for their students, something that many found to be quite valuable.
Mitchell Langdon, a Foothill Tech parent, stated that, “I talked to the counselors, [and] at the Wellness Center, I bought a T-shirt which I appreciate as well … [At] DTech over there, I see 3-D printing, which is kinda cool. I didn’t expect that to be on a table out there.”
Classroom visits began at 6:10 p.m. for seventh period, and teachers began presenting about their classes for the parents. Math teacher Bill Huffman stated that, “[On] my side of it, it helps make the connection with the parents where they can actually see what their students are doing, and then, also, it allows them to know at home how they can better help their child, so I show them all the different resources that they have that maybe their child doesn’t go home and share with the parents.”
Similarly, Richard Geib, an English and history teacher, said, “The most important aspect is for parents to feel as if they know what’s going on and have confidence that the school knows what it’s doing … I think it’s important for parents and teachers to both be on the same page and have faith that both are doing their jobs.”
Franklin Davis, a member of Foothill Tech’s administration, commented that, “[I]t’s a great night for parents to come and finally see [teachers] face-to-face, get a chance to walk in the steps of their kids at night, and … get to see how long it actually takes to go from class to class and how that is.”
As the night went on, it began to rain, small droplets splattering here and there, gradually growing larger. However, this did not stop the event from functioning: the Parent Faculty Student Organization (PFSO) covered their cookies, and parents walked underneath the shelter of the hallways.
Steve Boyd, one of the counselors at Foothill Tech, mentioned that, “The rain caught me off guard, but I think parents and everyone else had a very good time.”
In addition to classrooms, other areas of Foothill Tech were also open for parents to view, including the Wellness Center and library, or Media Center. Foothill Tech’s new Library Media teacher, Brandi Lewis, stated that, “The interaction between the parents has been really interesting, getting to know the parents, ’cause obviously I’m new, so it’s kind of nice to see the community, the type of community that the school has.”
Commenting on the Foothill Tech community, Lewis continued, “I mean, everyone seems very involved, and I think that is awesome because we need more of that … it needs to be a strong community.”
After an eventful night of socializing and meeting teachers, parents departed from Foothill Tech under the night sky. Many parents left feeling satisfied and hopeful for the future, ready to watch their students thrive in the academic environment that Foothill Tech provides.
