Sometimes it’s hard to walk away from a career you love, especially when it has shaped not only your professional life but your identity as well. For First Lady Jill Biden, teaching has never been just a job—it has been a lifelong calling. After more than 40 years in the classroom, she announced last week that she is officially retiring from teaching, marking the end of an extraordinary chapter in American education.
Biden revealed her decision following her final class at Northern Virginia Community College, where she has taught English for years while simultaneously serving as First Lady of the United States. Her announcement came during a virtual event with teachers from across the country, a fitting setting for someone who has consistently placed educators at the center of her public mission. Speaking candidly, she reflected on the privilege of working in classrooms for four decades and expressed deep gratitude to her fellow teachers for their resilience, passion, and dedication.
Throughout her career, Jill Biden has taught at nearly every level of education, from high schools to community colleges and universities. Even as her husband rose through the political ranks—from senator to vice president and eventually president—she remained committed to continuing her work as an educator. That decision made her unique among modern first ladies and earned her widespread respect from teachers nationwide, who saw her as one of their own.
In her remarks, Biden emphasized that teaching was never something she did for recognition. Instead, she described the classroom as a place of connection, growth, and hope. She spoke warmly about students balancing jobs, families, and education, and how their determination inspired her year after year. Community college students, in particular, held a special place in her heart, as many represented nontraditional paths and second chances—stories she believes are central to the American experience.
Her retirement does not signal a retreat from advocacy. On the contrary, Biden made clear that education will remain a central focus of her work. As First Lady, she has championed initiatives supporting community colleges, military families, and teachers’ mental health, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has often highlighted the burnout educators face and pushed for better support, resources, and respect for the profession.
Colleagues and former students have responded to the news with an outpouring of appreciation. Many shared stories of Biden’s hands-on teaching style, her encouragement of critical thinking, and her genuine interest in students’ lives beyond the classroom. To them, she wasn’t just a prominent public figure—she was “Dr. Biden,” a professor who showed up, graded papers, and listened.
Education leaders have also praised her example, noting that her decision to keep teaching while serving as First Lady sent a powerful message about the value of the profession. At a time when teachers often feel undervalued or politically targeted, Biden’s visibility helped elevate their work and remind the nation of the role educators play in shaping the future.
While stepping away from the classroom was not an easy choice, Biden acknowledged that every season eventually comes to an end. She described her retirement as bittersweet, filled with pride for what she accomplished and gratitude for the relationships she built. “Teaching has been the work of my life,” she said, adding that she will carry those experiences with her always.
As Jill Biden closes this chapter, her legacy as an educator is firmly established. She leaves behind not just lesson plans and lectures, but generations of students who were encouraged, challenged, and believed in. Though she may no longer stand at the front of a classroom, her influence on education—and on those who teach and learn—will continue long after her final class.
