Dr. Jill Biden has spent over four decades dedicated to education, a commitment that began long before she assumed the role of First Lady of the United States. Her career trajectory spans public high school teaching in Delaware, community college instruction, and eventually serving on the faculty at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in 2009, where she taught English and writing courses. What makes her story unique is not only her longevity in teaching but her decision to continue working as an educator while fulfilling the highly visible responsibilities of First Lady. Historically, the position has not included outside professional work, making her dual role unprecedented. Her choice underscored a lifelong passion for teaching and conveyed that for her, education is an identity rather than simply a profession.

Throughout her tenure at NOVA, Dr. Biden’s engagement with students went beyond symbolic gestures. She taught in person and adapted to remote instruction during the COVID‑19 pandemic, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to her students’ learning. Despite security and scheduling constraints that sometimes listed her simply as “staff” or “TBA,” students often discovered they were learning directly from the First Lady herself. Her courses focused on foundational subjects such as English composition and writing, serving a diverse student body, including recent high school graduates, adult learners, and those pursuing second careers or further educational opportunities. In interacting with such varied populations, Biden reinforced her belief in community colleges as engines of opportunity and social mobility, a message she consistently highlighted in public engagements.

Jill Biden’s decision to maintain her classroom role while serving as First Lady represented a historic break from precedent. Previous First Ladies typically focused on ceremonial duties and advocacy, but Biden chose to preserve her professional identity as an educator. This choice spotlighted the teaching profession at a time when educators nationwide were navigating significant challenges, including pandemic-related disruptions, curriculum debates, and policy controversies. By teaching two days a week alongside her First Lady responsibilities, she elevated public awareness of community college education and underscored the contributions of teachers across the country. Media coverage frequently highlighted her dual role, and Biden herself emphasized in speeches and interviews that teaching was central to her identity, not simply an occupation she once held.

In December 2024, Dr. Biden announced she had taught her final class at NOVA, marking the conclusion of a significant chapter in her career. The announcement was made during a virtual event celebrating educators nationwide, emphasizing her gratitude for colleagues, students, and the profession as a whole. While serving as First Lady remained a profound honor, Biden described her work as an educator as the defining element of her professional life. Major outlets, including the Associated Press and Inside Higher Ed, reported that she had concluded 15 years of teaching at NOVA, framing it as a natural and heartfelt conclusion rather than a controversial departure. The announcement reflected her consistent prioritization of education and the fulfillment she found in classroom engagement.

Dr. Biden’s departure from NOVA has broader significance beyond her personal career. It highlighted the visibility of community college educators, a group often overlooked despite serving millions of students nationwide. Her dedication to teaching while holding one of the country’s most scrutinized public positions inspired both educators and students, showing that professional commitment and public service can coexist. Commentators framed her exit as an opportunity to celebrate her achievements and to recognize her advocacy for teachers and learners. Although stepping away from classroom instruction, Biden’s influence on education, literacy, and access remained a consistent thread in her public persona and her ongoing efforts to elevate the teaching profession.

Looking ahead, while Dr. Biden has concluded her work at NOVA, she has not signaled an end to her educational advocacy. Observers note that her commitment to teachers and students, particularly in community college access, literacy initiatives, and broader educational equity, is likely to continue shaping her public engagement. Her experiences as an educator inform her policy perspective, her initiatives as First Lady, and her broader influence on national conversations about learning and opportunity. Even as her classroom chapter closes, Jill Biden’s lifelong identity as a teacher ensures that education remains a central theme of her public work and legacy, demonstrating that dedication to students and the profession can coexist with a prominent role on the national stage.