First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, a former high school English teacher and current community college professor, continues to teach despite her numerous responsibilities as America’s First Lady. Photo Credit: the hill.com

You may be familiar with Dr. Jill Biden, the nation’s current First Lady. But did you know that she is a former high school English teacher? In addition to her experience at the secondary level, Jill has been a professor of English at Community College since 2009. She has declared her intention to continue teaching during her entire tenure as First Lady.

Jill was born on June 3, 1951, in Hammonton, New Jersey. She was raised in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. After she graduated from Upper Moreland High School in Montgomery County, Pennsylvnia, in 1969, Jill earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Delaware (1975). She earned two Master’s degrees, one in English from West Chester University in Pennsylvania and one in Education from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She completed the requirements for her PhD in Education from the University of Delaware.

After earning her degrees, Jill accepted a position teaching English and reading in high school. She taught for three years at Claymont High School in Delaware, and then at Brandywine High School in Wilmington, Delaware (1991-1993). For five years she taught adolescents with emotional disabilities at Rockford Center Psychiatric Hospital.

From 1993 to 2008, Jill taught English and writing at Delaware Technical & Community College. Since 2009, she has worked as a professor of English at Northern Virginia Community College.

When her husband was elected to serve as the Vice President under the Obama Administration, Jill continued to teach full time, even though she had many responsibilities as the wife of the Vice President. She is believed to be the only Second Lady in history to hold down a full-time job while serving as Second Lady. Despite her workload in the classroom, Jill still found time for public service. During her husband’s Vice Presidential term, which spanned the years from 2009 to 2017, the hardworking educator co-founded the Book Buddies program and the Biden Foundation. She also spearheaded a nonprofit organization to support women’s health and another to support military families.

And her work as a public servant and educator continue. Dr. Jill Biden: A true Chalkboard Champion.

English teacher Christine Marsh has been elected to serve in the Arizona State Senate. Photo credit Arizona State Legislature

Many excellent classroom teachers have also pursued a career in politics. One of these is Christine Marsh, an English teacher who was elected to serve in the Arizona State Senate in 2020.

Christine was raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from California’s UCLA in 1989, and her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2016. She also holds an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Northern Arizona University.

Christine’s impressive career as an educator has spanned 30 years. For 24 years, she taught at Chaparral High School in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Her teaching assignment there included courses in Advanced Placement. Next, she taught at Cactus Shadows High School in the Cave Creek Unified School District. After three years in Cave Creek, she returned to Scottsdale Unified. In 2016, this amazing educator was recognized as the Teacher of the Year by the Arizona Educational Foundation. Following her selection, she traveled to Washington, DC, to meet President Barack Obama.

In 2020, Christine won her bid to serve in the Arizona State Senate. She ran on the Democratic ticket against Kate Brophy McGee. She assumed office on January 11, 2021. Her current term ends on January 9, 2023. Her district, LD28, includes Paradise Valley, Sunnyslope, Arcadia, and other parts of North Central Phoenix. She serves on the Senate Education Committee and the Transportation and Technology Committee. She continues to teach while serving in the State Senate!

Former teacher Susan Holmes has also served her community in the Georgia State House of Representatives. Photo credit: Ballotpedia

Many fine teachers also serve as competent politicians. One of these is Susan Holmes, a teacher from Jasper County, Georgia, who also served in the Georgia State House of Representatives.

Susan was born on Oct. 8, 1942, on a large cotton farm in northern Jasper County. She represents the seventh generation in her family to live in Jasper County. As the years went by, Susan’s family farm was transformed into a dairy business. As a member of a farming and dairy family, Susan grew up with a deep appreciation and love for rural Georgia.

After her graduation from Monticello High School in Jasper, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Education at the University of Georgia. Later she completed courses in administration and leadership from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

After earning her degree, Susan taught school, both public and private, served as a postmaster, a legal assistant, and also served as the CFO of a family-owned insurance company. As if all that were not enough, she is a licensed real estate agent.

In 1998, Susan was elected to the office of Mayor of Monticello, a position she kept for 12 years. She was the first woman to serve her community in this role. In 2007, Susan was appointed by President George W. Bush to the position of State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency for Georgia.

In 2010, the former teacher was elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. There she represented first District 125 and then District 129. While there, one of her most significant pieces of legislation was to provide grants and scholarships to students to help pay for their tuition.

For her service to the community, Susan has earned many accolades. She was selected Monticello Jasper County Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians by Georgia Trend Magazine and one of the five most outstanding women in Middle Georgia by the Girl Scouts Council. In addition, she garnered recognition as Northeast Georgia’s Most Outstanding Citizen and she earned the Georgia Downtown Association’s Outstanding Leadership Award.