Older people seem to get cooler than others in a room. A simple to make lap quilt would be nice.

either would be great but i think something "teachery" theme would still be Ok if that is what she has devoted her life to

Just start chattering about your kitchen/dining room and slip in a question about what colors she uses.

Table runner for sure. I've been teaching 34 years so see that end of it, but have an autistic grandson whose 4-year-old classroom I visit. (He's in another school district, but about once a month I try to go spend about 1/2 a day in his room to help with routines, social interaction,etc.) Anyway, for Christmas I made runners for his music, PE, classroom, principal and aide. They were a hit. May I suggest putting springtime colors on one side and fall colors on the other? Or some kind of reversible one anyway. They'll have choice and get more use that way. I piece one side, but make the other whole-cloth (like the 10 minute runner). That makes quilting easier since you don't have to try to match the top to the bottom seams. GREAT idea!

Unless she is a quilter herself I wouldn't make her a table runner without knowing if she likes them and what her colors are. I have not seen a table runner in a person's home that wasn't a quilter or related to a quilter in a couple of decades. If she attends the school's games maybe a lap quilt to wrap around her at the game would be nice or one for her car if she is married. Most husbands tend to keep a car cooler than a wife likes.