You could snag one of the 2020 Macbook Airs from the refurb store and a base model iPad close-ish to the cost of getting the iPad Pro + accessories.
Yeah, but I say this as the owner of both an iPad Pro from 2018 and a 2020 air - for the basic stuff she's doing even a
base model iPad will probably be better - and you'll have plenty of budget left even if you buy a Logitech keyboard case, a bluetooth mouse and an Apple Pencil for it.
It will be quieter, won't get hot, just as if not faster and more responsive, play YouTube better, can draw on it, etc.
The MBA may just be an expense she doesn't need.
IMHO looking at an iPad Pro for this stuff is total overkill, and at the low end a base iPad plus peripherals will provide a better experience, provided the tasks fit within that usage model. If you need a 12.9" screen fair enough (and the pro is the only way to get that), but a 10" iPad plus accessories will be 1/2 - 2/3 the price.
I very nearly bought a 2020 iPad Pro 12.9 instead of my MBA 2020 and in some ways I regret going the way I did, but for me iOS isn't QUITE there yet. I'm still going to buy a 2020 / 2021 iPad Pro 12.9 to pair with the MBA, and I suspect it will eventually supplant it with iOS 14, 15 or 16 (for me).
But my usage is a lot more "power user" than what the OP describes (network administration, to lots of terminal sessions, RDP, VMware Fusion to administer remote ESXi servers, etc.). Even the base model iPad hardware is capable. It's iOS that tis holding it back.
If your usage fits within iOS, I'd pick iPad every time.
Maybe as per the quoted post above - forget the iPad Pro for now, buy a base model iPad, keyboard, pencil and mouse - and give it a shot to see if it works out for her. If the apps won't do the job, buy an MBA to complement it?
Depending on how the pandemic is where you are, maybe try to demo one in the store. Will also be good for her to check which form factor she prefers.