Who is Mrs. Betty Baker from The Wednesday Wars and what is their importance?

Mrs. Betty Baker is a seventh grade teacher at Camillo Junior High School, where Holling Hoodhood attends. Mrs. Baker is a caring teacher whose husband is fighting in Vietnam. In the beginning of the novel, Mrs. Baker seems to dislike Holling, as he is neither Catholic nor Jewish, and as such, must remain in class while all the rest of her students attend religious training. As a result, Mrs. Baker must find something for Holling to do. At first, Mrs. Baker makes Holling do a variety of different chores, but after a few weeks, she appears to realize Holling can do much more. Believing him to be intelligent, Mrs. Baker begins teaching Holling Shakespeare.