+ − Contact Information
Phone: (512) 463-0624
Fax: (512) 463-8386
Office Address:
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
+ − Biography
Long recognized as one of Arlington's most dedicated community leaders, Dr. Diane Patrick was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in November of 2006. Representative Patrick's House District 94 covers most of Arlington in Tarrant County and includes the communities of Dalworthington Gardens and Pantego.
Representative Patrick currently is the Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee and also sits on the House Appropriations Committee and Rules and Regulations. She has successfully passed numerous pieces of significant legislation during her four terms in office. In recognition of her contributions, her Post-Legislative Session awards include: Dallas Morning News "Best of Rookie Class," Texas Dental Association "Patient Advocacy Award," Texas Charter School Association "Charter School Advocate," Alliance for Prosperity "Friend of the Taxpayer," and Texas Association of Business (TAB) "Champion of Free Enterprise.” Additional awards include Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) "Tribute to Texas Children," Collaborative for Children "Spirit of Collaboration," and Texas Equity Center "Champion of Children" for her efforts in school finance and funding equity." she also received the Christian Life Commission “Horizon Award,” Texas Parent Teacher Association “Legislator Honor Roll,” Texas Association of Mid-Sized Schools “Golden Apple Award,” Texas Hospital Association “Excellence in Public Service,” and a 100% rating on the Texas Conservative Coalition Scorecard. Reflecting on the most recent Session (2013), she recently received the Lone Star Conservative Leader Award from the Texas Conservative Roundtable.
In addition to other Interim responsibilities Representative Patrick has served as a member of the Select Committee on Government Accountability and Efficiency. Select Public School Accountability Committee, and she also chaired the Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education.
Prior to her service in the Texas House of Representatives, Dr. Patrick served as a member of the Arlington ISD Board of Trustees for over 11 years, including four years as School Board President, followed by four years of service as an elected Republican on the Texas State Board of Education. During her 19 years of elected leadership at various levels, she has earned a reputation as a smart and dedicated leader and a staunch fiscal conservative with a vision.
After graduating from Longview High School and receiving her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in English from Baylor University, Diane began teaching at the age of 20 in an elementary classroom in Waco, Texas. While she was teaching in Richardson ISD, she went on to earn her Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in English from the University of North Texas (UNT). After staying home to raise their two children for a number of years, she returned to teaching in Birdville ISD and then served as Director of Educational Programs at two psychiatric hospitals. Later Diane re-enrolled at UNT and earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with a major in Educational Administration and a minor in Public Administration in 1999. Dr. Patrick was a faculty member at The University of Texas at Arlington from 1994 until 2007, and she has also taught at Texas Christian University. Dr. Patrick has authored numerous publications on educational issues and been recognized for her dedication to educational excellence by various organizations over the years.
She is currently a Director on the Arlington ISD Education Foundation Board and the Texas Education Reform Foundation. She also has provided leadership in numerous other educational organizations including the Texas Center for Educational Research (TCER) Advisory Board, and the Consortium of State Organizations of Texas Teacher Educators (CSSOTE). In addition to her involvement in education, Dr. Patrick has played an active role in various community organizations over many years. She is a member of Downtown Arlington Rotary Club, Junior League of Arlington, Arlington Republican Club, Republican Women of Arlington, and Reagan Legacy Republican Women. She previously served on the Board of Directors for Arlington Museum of Art and Children's Advocacy Network, and as County Co-chair of the March of Dimes. She has also served on the Tarrant County School-to-Work Commission and the Tarrant County Youth Council.
Married to Arlington dentist Dr. Ned Patrick since 1965, Dr. Patrick and her husband settled in Arlington in 1973 where their two children attended and graduated from Arlington public schools. They now have six young grandchildren, two boys and four girls. Representative Patrick considers it an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to give back to her Arlington community and her native state through her many years of servant leadership.