Jill Biden Returns To Teaching

Jill Biden returned to her teaching career today, now that her husband is settled down into the Vice Presidency. According to a White House press release:

Continuing her 28-year career as an educator, Dr. Jill Biden returned to teaching today at a DC-area community college. Dr. Biden will work as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College this semester, teaching two English courses. "I am thrilled to return to the classroom to continue working with community college students, whom I greatly admire and enjoy teaching," said Dr. Biden. "I have always believed in the power of community colleges to endow students with critical life skills, and I am pleased that I can make a difference by doing what I love to do, teaching people who are excited to learn."

Biden has been actively engaged in education for most of her adult life. Her doctoral dissertation explored methods for retaining students in community colleges and she has long been vocal on education's utmost importance for guaranteeing economic security in the future.

Comments

[lynjs]

This is a REAL TEACHER. She has passion, something that is lost on the profession. Too bad I'm not living in the vicinity where I could take her class.

[antaeus]

Yeah, passion. That's what we're missing. Maybe if we teachers could all get a husband to support our part-time gigs and let us grade papers by the fireside of their mansions, we could ooze passion from every pore.

[Razril]

You can't fault them for being able to afford their luxuries now. They worked for it, just like everyone else.

[SantaFeStars]

We actually need more teachers like Dr Biden! She's such an asset to her profession. and obviously loves her job.

[cfm922]

grf67 - Amazing that you would make that comment about Laura Bush. Obviously you know nothing about her.

[JNagarya]

We know that Laura Bush married screw-up Georgie. That says something about her judgment.

[mphalen]

This is why I said that she is much more qualified to be Secretary of Education than that dolt Arne Duncan.

[JNagarya]

If so, it would also be justifiably criticized as favoriteism; nepotism. I think Obama know what he's doing re. Duncan.

[hapiguy]

Both Joe and Jill, are for real,,,just hard to fathom in D.C. Politics i know..what a fresh breath of air,,,

[panchovilla]

I don't like Joe Biden much. It may be his foreign policy approach. Yet the little I know about Jill Biden makes me think she's for real. Like really real. So, I guess that says something good about Joe himself after all.

[JNagarya]

Joe was a stutterere as a child. That's why he "gaffs": sometimes his brain overruns his outh.

But the media loves him because he's unscripted, refreshing. And, unlike all other Senators, he never moved to DC while Senator -- for thrity-plus YEARS.

The man is intelligent and genuine. And an excellent choice for VP.

And Jill is as genuine; and a lovely human being.

[JNagarya]

"stutterere" = stutterer

"outh" = mouth

[redwoodcitizen]

"Differences in admission standards between the two institutions, and grading on separate curves, means that you probably got what you paid for by graduating from a university with a good reputation­."

It depends on the type of class that it is. For example, calculus is calculus, and general chemistry is general chemistry, whether you take it at a more prestigious school or at a community college. I would advise any student taking these type of classes to definitely take it at a community college- you are much likely to get a better instructor, and learn more.

[redwoodcitizen]

I am glad for this story, because it puts community colleges in the spot-light. They are very underrated as educational institutions. I think that is absolutely wonderful that she is returning to her work. She's awsome gal, both inside and out.

[grf67]

Excellent. Amazing that the democratic wives are so much smarter than the republican wives. Cheney and Bush didn't have any skills that could be used in a school or anywhere else. Nor, by the way, do republicans volunteer for anything.

[cheesebeanswindy]

Hate to break it to you (and not that I'm a fan) but both the Cheney and Bush wives have graduate degrees (not that they use them in the real working world, like Jill). Cheney in fact has a PhD in English (like Biden I believe) but instead of teaching she uses hers to write bad novels.

[Nan2008]

PSSSST, my husband Joe, could've been VP or SOS, what ya think about that? Hmmmmmm?

[JNagarya]

"Pssst. My husband could have been Sec. of State or VP. He chose VP."

Now, what sense does your comment make? That Jill, having taught for TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS, only returned to teaching once domestic stability had been reestablished in order to brag?

If so, that projection reveals a great deal only about YOU.

[kstuff]

Community colleges provide notoriously low salaries. Most people who "have to work" can't afford to work at a community college, if they want to pay their bills.

[nevadagirl]

When I attended a community college in California in the 70's, the pay for teachers was more than professor's received at state colleges. I'm sure it's not that way now, but don't assume one state is the same as the rest.

[Julie Quinn]

I currently teach at a community college and I make a good living...i­t might not be Research 1-level pay, but it's a great job. You probably mean adjunct teaching--that is impossible to live on.

[antaeus]

Yeah, adjunct. Fancy word for "part time." So you're among the nicely fixed

[progressivelady]

I wish Jill was my son's teacher, I bet she is very patient and kind hearted :)

[bsc]

my George Washington U professors joked that the kids at community college were getting the same education at a third of the price as a number of them taught at both places...t­hey were right....h­owever, there is still something in a name, i guess that is what I paid for...kind of sad

[SolarPowerGuy]

Differences in admission standards between the two institutions, and grading on separate curves, means that you probably got what you paid for by graduating from a university with a good reputation.

[jelly450]

I have been to state colleges, private college, and community colleges. I think the best teachers were at the community college. The community college I went to was in Baltimore and many of my teachers were graduates of John Hopkins, Georgetown, and George Washington University. My favorite teacher was a graduate of Radcliffe. I asked her one day why she taught at a community college and she replied

"People who like to teach work at community colleges".

[SolarPowerGuy]

I'm trying to run my own biotech business now. Even if my business succeeds, I think it will be a short-term venture.

I dream of a university faculty job in the future. I do enjoy teaching, and I have been reviewed well by students. But make no mistake about it, I enjoy research more than teaching. It's hard to ask someone with a doctorate to abandon their quest for new knowledge.

[petaflop]

I have mixed feeling. I respect Dr. Biden. But, if she didn't take the position, couldn't someone else, who "has to work," get a job?

So many people, who don't have money and "need to work", are looking for a job.

[antaeus]

Exactly.

[bibb]

On the other hand, if Dr. Biden is an excellent teacher, why should the fact that she is well-off prevent her from working successfully with her students? I'm not sure that placing financial need as a criteria for employment is a fair standard. We don't expect it in other occupations, and teaching should not be the exception.

[Msha]

petaflop, I guess you are saying that if someone who is qualified for a position interviews, she should be passed over in favor of one who needs it?
Contrary to you, it warms my hearth that she is teaching when she may not need to (the Bidens are comfortable but NOT WEALTHY) as it shows a commitment to education.
What you write sound like reverse discrimination to me.

[TruthosaurusRex]

That is the dumbest thing I've heard.
Did it occur to you that people work because they need to use their brains on a regular basis, and not let it rot and go to waste? That they have intelligence to share? That doing womething worthwhile with your life is better than sitting around all day?

You're saying any couple in which one person makes a lot of money, one person should just stay home and "give" their job to someone else, whether that person is qualified or not. For all you know, Biden was the best person for that job.

[Julie Quinn]

Adjuncts are *always* needed at community colleges.