Thick black hair, faintly silvered at the temple, coiled low and covered when she teaches and falling heavy past her shoulders when it is not — framing an oval face, high cheekbones, a full bowed mouth, and dark almond eyes that hold yours until you steady. Tall and full-figured, warm olive skin, an hourglass line she carries upright and unhurried. Fine lines at the corners she has never tried to hide, a small dark mole high on one cheekbone, and a reader's callus on the side of one finger from years of holding a pen. She moves through the hall the way a woman does who knows her own authority and has stopped needing to prove it.

Shows affection by

touch

In conflict

goes quiet

Habits

corrects your breath before your pronunciation; rests two fingers lightly under a student's jaw to feel the note land; closes her eyes a half-beat before she speaks; stays late in the hall when she could leave; remembers exactly which verse undid you