Jill Biden Bids Farewell to the Classroom After Four Decades

Sometimes it’s hard to walk away from a career you love. For First Lady Jill Biden, that moment has finally arrived. After more than 40 years of teaching, she announced last week that she is retiring, closing a chapter that has defined much of her professional and personal identity. The news came shortly after she wrapped up her final class at Northern Virginia Community College, where she had taught English composition for over a decade—even while serving as First Lady.

A Teacher First

Biden’s teaching career has spanned four decades, dozens of classrooms, and countless students. She often described herself as “a teacher who happens to be First Lady,” a phrase that underscored her belief that education was not just a profession, but a calling. From high school classrooms in Delaware to community colleges in Virginia, her passion was consistent: helping students discover their voices, improve their writing, and believe in their potential.

Throughout her time in the White House, she insisted on continuing to teach, breaking precedent as the first First Lady in American history to maintain a full-time job outside her ceremonial duties. She graded papers on Air Force One, prepared lesson plans between state events, and made clear that teaching was not something she would give up simply because of her public role.

Her Farewell

During a virtual event with teachers nationwide, Biden reflected on her decision to retire. She called her years in the classroom “an honor of a lifetime” and expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their dedication to students, particularly through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“To be able to walk into a classroom, to look into the eyes of students from all walks of life, and to watch them grow in confidence—it’s a privilege I will always cherish,” she said. Biden thanked teachers across the country for their resilience, their creativity, and their commitment, emphasizing that the strength of the nation rests in its classrooms.

A Legacy in Education

Jill Biden’s career has left a lasting mark on community colleges, which she has championed as engines of opportunity. As First Lady, she used her platform to highlight the value of two-year institutions, vocational programs, and workforce training. She often argued that community colleges are “America’s best-kept secret,” offering affordable, accessible education to students who might otherwise be left behind.

Her retirement does not mean she will step away from advocacy. Advisers have suggested she plans to continue championing education policy, teacher support, and workforce development even outside the classroom. Her unique perspective—as someone who has both shaped policy discussions and lived the realities of teaching—will likely keep her voice influential.

Closing the Chapter

For Biden, leaving the classroom is bittersweet. Teaching was not just her profession; it was part of her identity. Yet after four decades, she leaves behind a legacy of compassion, perseverance, and belief in the transformative power of education.

As she told her colleagues: “I may be leaving the classroom, but the teacher in me will never retire.”