Jill Biden gestures as she speaks to reporters while campaigning for her husband, former Vice President Joe Biden, during a voting poll meet and greet Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Jill Biden, a lifelong teacher and first lady of the United States, is expected to keep her full-time job outside the White House after her husband takes office. Biden is an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College, where she continued to teach 15 credits a semester while serving as second lady from 2009 to 2017.
On Nov. 7 during his speech in Delaware, President-elect Joe Biden said of his wife, “For American educators, this is a great day for you all. You are going to have one of your own in the White House.”
So how do educators feel about having one of their own in the White House? We asked Illinois educators, and here’s what they said.
Most shared their excitement about having a fellow teacher on the inside, while others said they are hopeful for changes in the education system.
If you are an Illinois educator and want to share your thoughts on Jill Biden, send a response with your name, school name, subject or grade you teach, and a photo of yourself to hgreenspan@chicagotribune.com.
Steph Svarz, theater and English teacher at Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Hills
Steph Svarz says, “I am so excited to see what sort of positive impact Dr. Jill Biden will have on our education system and policy. She is experienced, passionate, and has a real knowledge of a wide variety of student experiences and needs. To have a person who speaks so highly of this profession and can be a real advocate for the needs of our students will have a positive impact on generations of American children. Particularly knowing that inequities in our school systems have been exacerbated by COVID-19, we need Dr. Biden’s leadership in the White House more than ever.”
Maggie Lackman, kindergarten teacher at West Ridge Elementary School in Chicago
Maggie Lackman says, “Last year I had the honor of seeing Dr. Jill Biden speak at a Chicago Ideas Week event. I’ll admit that, prior to that, I didn’t know much about her, as most of the information during the Obama administration was more focused on the Obama family. The event was to promote her new book, which was given to us and I read very quickly after. I am so excited to have a teacher who is so obviously committed to the profession in the White House. After hearing her speak and reading her book, I believe that she truly loves teaching (considering she continued as the second lady of the United States and wants to continue as FLOTUS!). She’s an inspiration, as she’s continued her career even though most, if not all, women in her position would quit or take a leave. Although President-elect Biden most likely won’t (appoint her), I’d love for Jill to be the next secretary of education. She knows the ins and outs of the field, she’s continued her education within education and she loves her students. There’d be few better choices in my opinion! I also think that this will change a lot of minds about pursuing or speaking about education careers.”
Chelsea Hosler, middle school special education teacher at Jose de Diego Community Academy in Chicago
Chelsea Hosler said, “I am OVERJOYED to have Dr. Biden in the White House as first lady, and even more in love with the fact that she will continue to teach! The last four years have been rough with President Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos at the helm of the Department of Education: two folks who have never attended or sent their own children to public schools, nor stepped foot in a classroom as educators. It has been heart-wrenching, painful and quite frankly infuriating to watch their attempts to systematically dismantle the public education system. I am so hopeful to know an educator, a brilliant capable and dedicated teacher, has the ear of our new president. Dr. Biden’s dedication to the profession gives me hope of some sensible reform, and a renewed understanding of the needs of our students and the field of education.”
Kathleen Porreca, principal at Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette
<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt=""I'm happy to respond to your question because Jill Biden and I have so much in common," said Kathleen Porreca. "We are both English teachers, we both have doctorates in education, and both our husbands earned their bachelor's degrees in political science from the University of Delaware. I have admired Dr. Jill for many years for her grace, her obvious intelligence and for being such a great partner to Joe Biden. They clearly have a partnership of equals.
As an educator for the past 35 years, I could not be more excited to see Jill Biden as our first lady. She knows and understands the passion and dedication that educators have for our profession and our students. As the principal of an all-girls high school, I think that Jill Biden is a great role model for my students. She has pursued her own educational pursuits throughout her life, and has always maintained her own career, while at the same time fulfilling the job of being a senator’s wife and second lady of the U.S.
I love the anecdote from Michelle Obama that when they traveled together as first and second ladies, Jill always had papers to grade. It’s true that teachers always have papers to grade, and Jill has not stopped working hard for her students.”” title=””I’m happy to respond to your question because Jill Biden and I have so much in common,” said Kathleen Porreca. “We are both English teachers, we both have doctorates in education, and both our husbands earned their bachelor’s degrees in political science from the University of Delaware. I have admired Dr. Jill for many years for her grace, her obvious intelligence and for being such a great partner to Joe Biden. They clearly have a partnership of equals.
As an educator for the past 35 years, I could not be more excited to see Jill Biden as our first lady. She knows and understands the passion and dedication that educators have for our profession and our students. As the principal of an all-girls high school, I think that Jill Biden is a great role model for my students. She has pursued her own educational pursuits throughout her life, and has always maintained her own career, while at the same time fulfilling the job of being a senator’s wife and second lady of the U.S.
I love the anecdote from Michelle Obama that when they traveled together as first and second ladies, Jill always had papers to grade. It’s true that teachers always have papers to grade, and Jill has not stopped working hard for her students.”” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2020/11/17/IG6UDTWEDFC2XPVYJJ5YC2KKQ4.jpg”>
“I’m happy to respond to your question because Jill Biden and I have so much in common,” said Kathleen Porreca. “We are both English teachers, we both have doctorates in education, and both our husbands earned their bachelor’s degrees in political science from the University of Delaware. I have admired Dr. Jill for many years for her grace, her obvious intelligence and for being such a great partner to Joe Biden. They clearly have a partnership of equals.
As an educator for the past 35 years, I could not be more excited to see Jill Biden as our first lady. She knows and understands the passion and dedication that educators have for our profession and our students. As the principal of an all-girls high school, I think that Jill Biden is a great role model for my students. She has pursued her own educational pursuits throughout her life, and has always maintained her own career, while at the same time fulfilling the job of being a senator’s wife and second lady of the U.S.
I love the anecdote from Michelle Obama that when they traveled together as first and second ladies, Jill always had papers to grade. It’s true that teachers always have papers to grade, and Jill has not stopped working hard for her students.”
Asra Syed, English teacher at William Fremd High School in Palatine
Asra Syed said, “I am thrilled that Dr. Jill Biden will be our first lady. Surely her passion for education means the next administration will take the needs of our youth far more seriously than our current administration does. I’m hopeful Dr. Biden will help the president-elect choose a more qualified and capable education secretary than Betsy DeVos or Arne Duncan. Instead of placing value on inequitable high-stakes tests that are focused on corporate greed instead of helping students — especially our marginalized or underprivileged students — I hope Dr. Biden will influence her husband to appoint someone with experience teaching who will work to appropriately fund public schools instead of private and charter schools, vouchers and ‘school choice.'”
Beth Raduly, music teacher at Stone Scholastic Academy in Chicago
“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Beth Raduly said. “Laura Bush was a teacher, but education in the Bush administration was a disaster. I’m not sure how much pull the first lady will have. I’m more interested in who is nominated for the secretary of education.”
Meg Rice, 3rd-grade special education teacher at George B. Swift Specialty School in Chicago
Meg Rice said, “I am incredibly excited about Dr. Biden becoming the next first lady. It is phenomenal to have a highly educated woman in the White House, and the fact that she wrote her dissertation on student retention in community colleges gives me a lot of hope for the future. As a teacher, my goal is to empower my students to love learning, become engaged community members and use their experiences to drive meaningful change. My hope is that Dr. Biden’s campaign as first lady will encourage students, especially Black and brown students in urban communities, to take up space in academia, because their experiences matter and are vital to the progress of education and society.”
Jennifer Greenburg, Lakeview resident and associate professor of photography, video and art in technology at Indiana University Northwest, Gary
“I am thrilled that someone with patience, empathy and an understanding of the plight of others will be the new first lady,” Jennifer Greenburg said. “It is my greatest hope that Dr. Biden will change the role of the first lady. In a past era, when the first lady was always a homemaker, activities like gardening and cookie-making were appropriate. It is now the 21st century, and I hope for the role of the first lady to be reformed. Dr. Biden’s time should be spent in her area of expertise — inspiring and positively impacting this nation with affirmative notions about math, science, reading and writing.”
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