Jill Biden Retires from Teaching After 40-Year Career

After four decades in education, First Lady Jill Biden is officially retiring from teaching. She announced her decision last week following her final class at Northern Virginia Community College, where she taught English and writing for 15 years.

Speaking during a virtual event attended by teachers nationwide, Biden shared:
“Being your first lady has been the honor of my life. But being your colleague has been the work of my life.”
She added, “I will always love this profession, which is why I continued to teach full time while serving as your first lady.”

Biden made history as the first First Lady to hold a paid job outside the White House while her spouse was in office. She began teaching in 1976 and joined Northern Virginia Community College in 2009, commuting from Delaware—even while serving as Second Lady and then First Lady.

With the Bidens preparing to leave the White House, she is stepping away from both public service and her beloved classroom.

A Legacy of Dedication

Northern Virginia Community College President Anne Kress praised Biden’s contributions, calling her “an exceptional faculty member.” She added,
“She has been a remarkable, unequaled champion for America’s community colleges… she leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of the students she taught, mentored and inspired.”

Though her teaching career has ended, many expect her advocacy for education to continue. As she closes this chapter, Biden’s retirement marks the end of a unique and groundbreaking journey in American education and public service.