Ms. Chambers has a strong maternal instinct, developed "late in life," she says, after her children were grown.

Ms. Chambers picked the macaw up and gave him a kiss.

"You could kill it if the food went down the wrong way," Ms. Chambers said.

Neighbors called the police, who found Ms. Chambers dead, face up in the lobby.

Ms. Chambers proposed that employees pay more for their spouses' health insurance.

Throughout the evening Ms. Chambers sat curled up on the stage floor with a small upright model.

"I want to show my son that school is important," Ms. Chambers said.

But Ms. Chambers said her agency was able to deal with several incidents at once.

Ms. Chambers depends on local police officers for volunteers, and many must coach three or more teams.

The parents who come at all only show up for the final awards ceremony, Ms. Chambers said.