Honesty is a good word to describe Miss Saunders. You could also say she's upfront, truthful, direct, frank, and something of a change-maker.

Miss Saunders speaks her mind. If she feels like something could be done better, she says so. She's not the kind of teacher who's resigned to the status quo. As one of the other teachers complains, "Everyday, she's coming to me with some new idea she came up with. Questioning why things can't be done differently."

The honest or engaged demeanor of Miss Saunders has a direct impact on her students, particularly for Maleeka. What does Maleeka's mom say about Miss Saunders? She says, "That Miss Saunders is the first teacher who ever called here to talk about what was going on with you."

At first, Maleeka doesn't appreciate Miss Saunders's concern. Yet the sincerity and honesty of her interest helps Maleeka sort through her identity issues. By confiding in her and by opening up about herself, we could say Miss Saunders gets Maleeka to open up. Her honesty helps get her away from Char and leads her to more productive things, like writing.

There's something admirable, inspiring, or honest in the way in which Miss Saunders lets the students talk about the Shakespeare play in their own words. She doesn't try to impose an interpretation on them. She lets them discuss it in a way that's true to them. As John-John says, "I'd kill myself if I had to kiss those crusty lips."