​​PATRICIA "PAT" HARDY
​ ASTEF’s Advocate for Education 2019
​THIRD Recipient

Patricia "Pat" Hardy of Fort Worth was awarded ASTEF’s 3rd Advocate for Education award on June 22 during the ASTEF Annual Meeting at the TSO Convention in Arlington. Hardy, a long-time member of the Texas State Board of Education, is now serving in her 19th year on the State Board of Education and will complete her final term in January 2023. As a member of the Board, Hardy represents Parker County and parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties.

With a desire to bring the experience and perspectives of a classroom teacher to the State Board of Education, Hardy has served on all three of the board's committees and currently serves on the Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund, which oversees the Permanent School Fund, the nation's largest education endowment. The Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund is the fiduciary of the funding set aside for schools and is entrusted to act in the best interest of Texas schools when it comes to protecting the funding for schools.

Retiring from the Weatherford Independent School District in 2017 as an instructional specialist, Hardy also served for five years as the Social Studies Coordinator. Prior to that, she taught high school world history and world geography for 30 years at Castleberry High School in Fort Worth. 

A lifelong educator who remains truly committed to her craft, Hardy has served on many Texas and national education boards and committees and has received numerous education-related honors at the district, college/university, community, and state levels. She has also served and continues to serve on many Texas and national education boards and committees.

So that she can stay directly in touch with today’s students, Hardy is co-director for Kids Hope mentor program for her church, mentoring weekly an elementary student in Fort Worth ISD. Kids Hope USA is a national non-profit organization that facilitates mentoring relationships between caring adults and at-risk children. Kids Hope provides structure, training, support, and resources designed by churches for use in public schools to give at-risk kids what they need most – hope and love from a mentor.

The ASTEF Advocate for Education Award is given to a woman in Texas who is an avid supporter of education by showing her commitment to service and financial contributions to multiple areas of education while not a current educator herself. Please join the ASTEF Board of Directors in congratulating Ms. Pat Hardy for her lifelong commitment and dedication to public education in Texas.