African Grey Parrot brings new meaning to teacher’s pet
DARYL CARLSON/CITIZEN PHOTO MICHELE ‘CHELE’ MILLER has spent her entire career as an educator and administrator at the Moultonborough Central School.
Walk into the office of Moultonborough Central School Principal Chele Miller and chances are the first thing you’ll notice is an African Grey parrot sitting atop his cage.
Eyeing visitors warily, the bird named “Cracker,” has come to school five days a week with Miller since she bought him at the Laconia Pet Center eight years ago.
Her interest in parrots was piqued when a parent brought her birds to school to share them with students. The woman later called Miller urging her to visit the pet shop and see the parrot she believed had a unique combination of intelligence and charm.
Students in preschool through grade six now have the chance to read their best works to the white-faced bird, with thick gray feathers accented by a bright red tail. After a student finishes their oration, Cracker reaches out his black hooked beak and bites the corner of the paper.
“They go off delighted that they have Cracker’s autograph,” Miller says smiling.
He rides in a small pet carrier that Miller attached to the headrest inside her car so he can enjoy the view as they drive from her home in Wonalancet to Moultonborough every weekday morning. When a crow flies overheard, he mimics the call. Whenever Miller stops her car the parrot inquires, “Are you all right?” She doesn’t recall ever braking hard enough to have asked the bird if he was all right, but explained, Cracker keys in on voice inflection and retains and speaks those words in context.
On Saturday, Cracker notices the change in Miller’s daily routine and asks, “Go for a ride?”
The parrot is just one of the many tools Miller has used during her 34 years as an educator to help children discover that learning is fun.
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