Deciding when to retire from a career you love is never easy, but the time eventually comes for everyone. For First Lady Jill Biden, that moment has arrived. After dedicating 40 years to teaching, she has officially announced her retirement from the profession.

Dr. Biden made the announcement last week following her final class at Northern Virginia Community College, where she has taught for 15 years.

During a virtual event attended by teachers from across the country, she shared her reflections on her career. “Being your First Lady has been the honor of my life,” she said.

“But being your colleague has been the work of my life.” She added, “Last Thursday, I taught my last class of the semester and my final class ever at Northern Virginia Community College.”

Her passion for teaching has been evident throughout her tenure as First Lady. Remarkably, she continued to teach full-time while serving in the White House, making her the first First Lady in U.S. history to hold an outside job while her husband was President. This dual role highlights her deep commitment to education and her desire to inspire students.

Dr. Biden’s contributions to Northern Virginia Community College were praised by its president, Anne Kress, who described her as “an exceptional faculty member.”

Kress emphasized the lasting impact Dr. Biden has had on her students, noting, “She leaves a lasting legacy in the lives of the students she taught, mentored, and inspired over the years.”

Kress also recognized Dr. Biden as a tireless advocate for community colleges, expressing confidence that her advocacy efforts would continue even after her retirement.

Dr. Biden’s teaching journey began in 1976 when she taught high school English in Wilmington, Delaware. Over the years, she held various teaching positions before joining Northern Virginia Community College in 2009. At that time, her husband, Joe Biden, had just begun serving as Vice President under President Barack Obama.

Despite the demands of her husband’s political career, Dr. Biden remained dedicated to her own professional path, even commuting from Delaware to Washington, D.C., to continue teaching after Joe Biden’s vice presidency ended.

As the Bidens prepare to leave the White House, Dr. Biden is closing an extraordinary chapter of her life. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable teaching career, but her influence as an educator and advocate for community colleges will undoubtedly endure.

For a glimpse into Dr. Biden’s passion for teaching, watch the video below, where she shares why the profession has meant so much to her.