Who is Maggie Jones from Plainsong and what is their importance?

Maggie Jones is a teacher at Holt High School. She is described as a kind a nurturing person. Though her mood is almost always pleasant, Maggie's personal life is somewhat lacking, and caring for her ailing father Maggie has made it difficult to form romantic attachments. Maggie has been romantically interested in Tom Guthrie for a long time, keeping her interest a secret, as he was a married man. Now that he may be available, Maggie has to decide if he is as desirable as she has previously thought.