Flint Hill Coach Attends White House Title IX Event

Jody Patrick, a physical education teacher and varsity girls basketball head coach at Flint Hill School, attended a White House function Wednesday afternoon in celebration of the Title IX's 40th anniversary.

The event honored the landmark statute that requires gender equity for educational programs that receive federal funding. Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Barack Obama and chairwoman of the White House council on women and girls and Tina Tchen, the council's executive director, hosted.

The invitation was extended to "notable women and men from the fields that have been greatly impacted by Title IX, from athletics to education." A panel that included tennis icon Billie Jean King discussed "the past, present and future of this landmark legislation."

During her remarks, King called for all the coaches in attendance to stand and be recognized for their hard and needed work at the grassroots level.

"It was pretty amazing to tip our caps before BJK!" Patrick said in a statement.

Patrick, who in January notched her 200th career win, also serves on the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental Under-16 National Team Committee. 

Last October, Flint Hill hosted who are working as coaches and hold fighting expertise in the areas of freestyle wrestling, boxing or Tae Kwon Do. Patrick helped to facilitate their three-week visit through the U.S. State Department’s SportsUnited program.

"So much of who I am, how I teach, and how I help young student-athletes find themselves rests on the shoulders of the women who attended this White House Title IX Celebration," Patrick said. "Living history took on a deeper meaning for me through this gathering. I am truly blessed. Billie Jean King, Donna de Varona, Nancy Hogshead and the other pioneers, we thank you!"