First Lady Jill Biden has officially wrapped up her four-decade-long teaching career at Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria. During a virtual event with educators nationwide, she revealed that she had taught her final class at the institution, marking the end of her tenure as an educator.
In her address, Biden expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as both first lady and colleague to fellow educators. She emphasized her love for the teaching profession, which led her to continue teaching full-time while fulfilling her duties as first lady. Biden, who taught English and writing at NOVA for 15 years, made history as the first woman to maintain her professional career outside the White House while holding the title of first lady.
The announcement coincides with the impending departure of President Joe Biden and Jill Biden from the White House in just over five weeks. Following the president's decision not to seek reelection after a lackluster debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris took over the Democratic ticket but ultimately lost the presidential race to Trump, who is set to begin his second term on Jan. 20.
Jill Biden began her teaching role at Northern Virginia Community College in 2009, following the election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the presidency and vice presidency, respectively. Even after Joe Biden's term ended in 2017, she continued to teach at NOVA, commuting from their residence in Delaware.
Throughout her teaching career, Biden has often stated that teaching is not just a job but an integral part of her identity. Her dedication to education and her students has been a cornerstone of her professional life, culminating in her final class at NOVA and the conclusion of her teaching career.