First Lady Jill Biden has announced her retirement from teaching after more than four decades in the classroom. In a virtual thank-you event for educators nationwide held in December 2024, she revealed that she had taught her final class at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) the previous Thursday.
Biden, often called “Dr. B” by her students, joined NOVA in 2009 as an English professor while serving as second lady and continued teaching full-time even after becoming first lady in 2021. Over her 15 years at the community college—and a total of about 40 years as an educator—she balanced her White House responsibilities with her passion for the classroom, a historic commitment that made her the first first lady to maintain a salaried teaching position during her tenure.
Speaking warmly to teachers across the country, Biden reflected on the deep fulfillment her career brought her. “Sometimes it’s hard to walk away from a career you love,” she acknowledged. She described teaching as an honor and expressed gratitude to her colleagues for their unwavering dedication to students. “I will always love this profession,” she added, emphasizing that her decision marks the close of this chapter rather than a farewell to education advocacy.
Biden has long championed community colleges and the teaching profession, viewing educators as essential agents of opportunity and change. Her departure comes as the Biden administration draws to a close, but she has left the door open to future involvement in education causes she cares deeply about.
Her announcement drew appreciation from fellow educators and highlighted the unique dual role she carved out—serving both the nation and her students with quiet determination. While stepping away from the daily demands of the classroom, Jill Biden’s legacy as a lifelong teacher remains firmly in place.
