Further education institutions “meet students where they are”, US first lady Jill Biden has said. Dr Biden, who taught in FE prior to becoming first lady, introduced herself as “Jill Biden, community college professor of English” in the new video, published on her social media channels.
The first lady was visiting Sauk Community College in Dixon, Illinois. “What inspires me about community colleges is that they meet students where they are,” Dr Biden said. “Students come here and they train for jobs. I met a woman today, a single mom. She became a welder, and now she’s providing a really good income for her family.”
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“There are a lot of people who can’t afford college, but this gives them the opportunity,” Dr Biden said about the community college route - similar to further education institutions in the UK.
In January, Jill Biden used her first solo address as first lady to praise teachers and promise them a “seat at the table”.
Having been a further education teacher for 36 years, she most recently worked at Northern Virginia Community College. Prior to her husband becoming president of the United States, Dr Biden said she would continue to teach while living at the White House.