The new first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, has used her first solo address to praise teachers and promise them a “seat at the table”.
After the inauguration of her husband Joe Biden on Wednesday as the 46th president, Dr Biden used her first public address as first lady this week to speak to educators.
She has been a further education teacher for 36 years and works at Northern Virginia Community College. Dr Biden has said she will continue to teach while living at the White House.
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In a broadcast message, she acknowledged the difficulties of “hybrid” blended learning and praised teachers for their hard work delivering education during the pandemic.
Jill Biden: ‘Educators all help one another’
“I know how hard it is,” she said. “I am teaching hybrid this semester myself. And I have to tell you, you know the one thing I love about educators is that we all help one another.
“I had to take the hybrid training on Tuesday morning - before we got on the plane to come to Washington, I was actually teaching my class,” she added.
“Over and over, I’ve made you a promise that when Joe was elected president, that you will always have a seat at the table, and I meant it.
“Our schools, our students, our communities - we’re all facing so many challenges right now. And I know that you are stretched thinner than most.
“But educators, this is our moment,” Dr Biden concluded.
