Letting go of a career you’re passionate about is never easy—but for First Lady Jill Biden, the moment to turn the page has arrived.
After an inspiring 40-year journey in education, Dr. Biden has officially closed the chapter on her teaching career. Last week, she taught her final class at Northern Virginia Community College and shared the emotional milestone during a virtual event watched by educators from across the country.
“Being your First Lady has been the honor of my life,” she said. “But being your colleague has been the work of my life.” With those heartfelt words, she announced that her most recent class wasn’t just the end of a semester—it was the end of an era.
Her decision marks the conclusion of a groundbreaking tenure. Jill Biden made history as the first—and still only—First Lady to hold a full-time job outside the White House while her husband served as President. Her commitment to the classroom never wavered, a testament to her deep love for teaching. “I will always love this profession,” she added, “which is why I continued to teach full time while serving as your First Lady.”
It’s the end of a remarkable career—but her legacy in education will continue to inspire for years to come.
For 15 years, Dr. Jill Biden has been a dedicated educator at Northern Virginia Community College, a role she proudly chose to keep even after becoming First Lady. Now, as her time in the White House draws to a close, Biden is also stepping away from the classroom—marking the end of two deeply meaningful chapters in her life.
In a heartfelt statement, Northern Virginia Community College President Anne Kress praised Biden as “an exceptional faculty member,” adding, “As she retires after an exemplary career, she leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of the students she taught, mentored, and inspired over the years.”
“She has been a remarkable, unequaled champion for America’s community colleges,” Kress continued, “and we know that her advocacy will continue.”
Dr. Biden’s teaching career began nearly five decades ago, in 1976, when she taught high school English in Wilmington, Delaware. After several teaching roles, she joined Northern Virginia Community College in 2009, the same year her husband, Joe Biden, became Vice President under President Barack Obama. Even while navigating life in the spotlight, she remained committed to her students—commuting by train from Delaware to Virginia to teach classes long after her husband’s vice presidency ended.
Her journey has been nothing short of groundbreaking: Jill Biden is the first First Lady to hold a full-time job outside the White House. Now, as she prepares to leave both the classroom and the presidential residence, she does so with a legacy of service, inspiration, and unwavering dedication to education.
Watch the video below to hear Dr. Biden share, in her own words, why teaching has always been her greatest passion.
Does it surprise you that Biden is stepping away from her teaching position at Northern Virginia Community College? Do you think she will end up taking another teaching position at a different school, or do you think she is officially retiring?
