Meet Your Teachers

We are literally your biggest fans! And we loooove your bird.
Kindori

Jen Cunha, J.D.

Jen Cunha is an attorney, animal cognition trainer, writer, and international speaker, focusing on animal literacy and communication. A "parrot mama" for over 16 years, Jen has been developing cognition training techniques for almost a decade. Her training manuals have been translated and distributed throughout Europe, and she’s been featured in Bird Talk magazine. Jen has twice written articles for the International Association of Applied Behavior Consultants Journal and is a frequent lecturer at science conventions and companion bird gatherings around the world. Jennifer collaborates on animal literacy and communication projects with university researchers, and her research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific proceedings. Her birds, Ellie and Isabelle, have passed university-designed blind tests on phonics and reading comprehension skills and are considered the very first animals who have learned how to read.

Justice Bellar, CPBT-KA

Justice Bellar, CPBT-KA, shares a life-long love for animals. Her passion for tough little ones lead her to work with shelter rescues in 2015. In 2017 she joined the team at The Gabriel Foundation, one of the world's largest parrot sanctuary and adoption organization. In time, Justice became the Behavior and Training Coordinator, managing a parrot behavior training case load both internally, overseeing as-needed training for the sanctuary parrots on the premises, as well as post-adoption support families. She also developed and taught workshops in parrot behavior. Justice holds her avian training certification through the International Avian Certification Board (IATCB). Justice also graduated from Dr. Susan Friedman's Professional Learning and Living with Animals course. Justice shares her home with three adopted parrots- Jimmy the yellow naped amazon, Snickers the umbrella cockatoo, and Tikka the blue and gold macaw. She spends her downtime gardening, hanging out with her trio of parrots, and playing cello - sometimes with accompaniment from her band, and sometimes with accompaniment from her birds!

Justice provides free behavior workshops each month for our Parrot Kindergarten members, and you can also access her throughout the month for behavior help with your flock family. (PK members receive discounts for private behavior sessions.)

Joe Zalman ("Invisible Joe")

When Jen was a young lawyer, it was her job to sue Joe. So Joe hired her to make her stop suing him. That was in 2008, and they’ve been inseparable ever since!

Joe lectured extensively throughout the United States, teaching thousands of educational classes in math and technology. Joe’s career spanned into business development, where he maintained the highest record of personal sales nationally in Tandy’s seventy-year history. CompUSA tapped Joe as their Regional Education Director and afterward Joe accepted a position as Executive Director of Palm Beach County Housing Authority.

Joe brings his passion for education and the sharing of knowledge, along with his business know-how, to Parrot Kindergarten and has partnered with Jen to make parrot classes available to bird caregivers all over the world. When he’s not busy working and gardening, Joe enjoys surfing, cooking, reading, and is a cinema affectianado!
parrot kindergarten Enrollment Opens in March, but...

Start Your Free Parrot Kindergarten Communication Course Today!

Parrot Kindergarten is your one-stop-shop for inspiration, fun, and connection. We've got quick and easy video training tutorials and a weekly coaching call to support you as your little one's teacher. Find friendship (and learn about animal intelligence!) in our monthly Clever Cookies discussion group. Finally, you'll discover easy solutions to challenging behaviors in our monthly behavior workshops.

Sign up today to begin your learning journey!