Jill Biden Ends 40-Year Teaching Career at Virginia College

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Jill Biden Ends 40-Year Teaching Career at Virginia College \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Jill Biden, the first lady and a longtime educator, announced on Monday that she taught her final class last week at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). Biden, who has spent over 40 years in classrooms, made the surprise announcement during a virtual event with teachers. As she and President Joe Biden prepare to leave the White House, her decision marks the end of a distinguished teaching career that included 15 years at NOVA, where she taught English and writing.

Quick Looks

Jill Biden Ends Career: Jill Biden announces the end of her 40-year teaching career, marking her final class at Northern Virginia Community College.
A Teaching Legacy: Biden taught English and writing for 15 years at NOVA while serving as First Lady, balancing public duties with her passion for education.
Surprise Announcement: The first lady revealed her decision during a virtual thank-you event with teachers, alongside union leaders Randi Weingarten and Becky Pringle.
Transition Ahead: The announcement comes as Jill Biden and President Joe Biden prepare to leave the White House after his decision to withdraw from reelection.
A Unique First Lady: Jill Biden is the first First Lady in U.S. history to maintain a full-time professional career outside the White House.
A Lifelong Educator: Biden started her teaching career in 1976, earning multiple degrees, including a doctorate in educational leadership.
Unclear Future Plans: Biden did not confirm whether she plans to fully retire from teaching or pursue new educational endeavors.
A Lasting Impact: Throughout her career, Jill Biden championed education, famously saying, “Teaching isn’t what I do, it’s who I am.”

Deep Look

A Career Comes to an End

First Lady Jill Biden officially closed the chapter on her long and celebrated teaching career. In a surprise announcement during a virtual “thank you” event with teachers on Monday, she revealed that her last class at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) had been her final one ever.

“Being your first lady has been the honor of my life. But being your colleague has been the work of my life,” Biden said during the event.

Biden, 73, taught English and writing at NOVA for 15 years and is the first woman to maintain a professional teaching career outside the White House while serving as first lady. Her decision comes as she and President Joe Biden prepare to leave office in just over five weeks following his decision to step down from his reelection campaign earlier this year.

Teaching: “Who I Am”

Jill Biden’s love for education has been the defining feature of her professional life. She began teaching in 1976 as an English teacher at a high school in Wilmington, Delaware. Over the course of her career, she taught at various schools, including a psychiatric hospital while earning her second master’s degree.

She began her tenure at NOVA in 2009 after Joe Biden became vice president under President Barack Obama. At the time, Jill Biden commuted to NOVA from Washington, D.C., balancing her responsibilities as second lady with her passion for teaching. After her husband’s term ended in 2017, she continued teaching while traveling from their Delaware home.

Throughout her career, Jill Biden emphasized her dedication to the profession, often saying:
“Teaching isn’t what I do, it’s who I am.”

Her academic accomplishments include multiple degrees:

The Announcement: A Surprise Farewell

Jill Biden’s announcement came as she sat alongside Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, during a virtual event to thank teachers nationwide.

“Last Thursday, I taught my last class of the semester and my final class ever at Northern Virginia Community College,” Biden shared, reflecting on her time as an educator.

It remains unclear whether Jill Biden’s departure from NOVA signals a complete retirement from teaching. Neither her aides nor officials at NOVA provided immediate comments on her future plans.

Leaving the White House and Shifting Focus

Jill Biden’s teaching career officially winds down as the Bidens prepare to exit the White House. After President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection following a poor debate performance earlier this year, Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic candidate. However, Republican Donald Trump defeated Harris and is set to begin his second presidential term on January 20, 2025.

The Bidens’ departure from Washington signals a major transition, not only for the family but also for Jill Biden, whose commitment to education has been a constant throughout decades of public service.

A Legacy of Education

Jill Biden’s groundbreaking career included balancing her professional life with public responsibilities—a feat no other first lady has accomplished. Over the years, she became a symbol of dedication to education and working women, using her role to advocate for teachers, community colleges, and educational access.

Before her time at NOVA, she taught at Delaware Technical Community College and served as a reading specialist at various high schools. Her experience teaching in a psychiatric hospital during her graduate studies underscored her passion for helping diverse student populations.

Her role as a teacher, even while serving as first lady, set a precedent that future occupants of the role may look to as an example of balancing personal passions with public duties.

What’s Next for Jill Biden?

Though Jill Biden has not formally announced plans for retirement beyond leaving her role at NOVA, her next steps remain a subject of curiosity. Given her lifelong commitment to education, advocacy work for teachers and students could remain a central part of her post-White House life.

Her decision to step away from the classroom marks the end of a remarkable 40-year teaching career—one that inspired countless students and championed the importance of educators.