In late March, Courtney Johnson, the current principal of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), announced that she will be taking a leave of absence for the 2026-2027 school year, intending to prioritize her family. As a result, a position for interim principal at Foothill Tech opened up.
On May 12, it was announced that current Assistant Principal Katie Tedford will serve as the interim principal of Foothill Tech for the upcoming school year. This decision was voted for by the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) Board of Education during the May 12 board meeting, and was announced to Foothill Tech families on the morning of May 13 via email by Superintendent Dr. Antonio Castro.
Tedford has been at Foothill Tech since 2002 and has served as assistant principal since 2019, after taking on roles both on the teaching side and the administrative side at various VUSD schools. Starting next school year, she will be taking on a new position with specific goals in mind.
“My decision to be considered for this position was to help provide continuity while [Mrs. Johnson is] gone until she comes back … I was interested in continuing the work that she has done, so that our students, our staff and our families just have a seamless experience and the best one we can give them,” Tedford said.
Looking ahead to the next year, Tedford doesn’t anticipate a change in how the school is led, but rather a focus on the student body.
“I don’t see anything radically new and different and earth-shattering. I think very much continuing that work, continuing to have a strong connection with our students and our student body. I think that will continue,” Tedford said.
As Foothill Tech prepares for this administrative transition, the focus remains on maintaining the school’s established environment. With Tedford’s deep roots within the school, a smooth handover can be expected and the upcoming year promises a period of steady leadership while the Dragon community awaits Johnson’s eventual return. Tedford will officially begin serving as interim principal when the new school year commences in August.
