Why did the chicken cross the road? Because she’s got a job to do, and her shift starts at 8 AM! At Newstead Country Preschool in New Zealand, Henry the Hen struts around in a bright fluorescent vest like she’s the CEO of traffic control. “When cars come, they don’t drive over the children because Henry makes the cars stop,” 4-year-old Molly McIlmurray explained to Mental Floss. Yep, forget stop signs—this hen’s working for a salary of cheese, and she’s not clucking around!

What does this job entail? Principal Tracy Trigg puts a neon vest on the bird every day. During drop-off and pickup, Henry pecks her way around the parking lot, reminding drivers to slow down. In fact, she’s become enough of a local curiosity that drivers might just be braking to take a peep at her. But hey, it works!

Henry’s flight to stardom wasn’t exactly planned. She wandered into a friend’s home, where she kept pooping on the carpet and devouring grated cheese. Trigg noted Henry had her beak had been clipped and believes she escapee from a factory farm. So the chicken found herself in need of a new roost—and a job. When she arrived at Newstead Preschool, she strutted straight to the parking lot. “”Because she is really sociable, when everybody turned up on Monday, she was in the car park because that’s where all the action was — and that’s the way it stayed,” Trigg shared with CBC.

“Henry is a self-appointed crossing guard,” Trigg explained to CBC. No applications necessary—Henry just strutted in and claimed the job. The kids love her. And what keeps this feathered officer happy? Cheese. “She likes to look for crumbs under the table, but Henry will do backflips for cheese,” Trigg joked to Upworthy.

But not all weather is ideal for work. “She’s a bit of a fair-weather worker,” Trigg admitted to Upworthy. If it’s raining, Henry clocks out early. The vest might be waterproof, but soggy feathers? No thanks.

And where does Henry go when the school day is done? Back to her farm home next door, conveniently owned by Trigg herself. That’s right, Henry’s job comes with room and board—talk about living the free-range life!

Henry’s fame doesn’t stop at the preschool gates. After a story on Kea Kids News, she became an international sensation. “There certainly has been a lot of international interest,” Trigg said to CBC. Not bad for a hen that started by wandering into living rooms.

Who needs a stop sign when you’ve got Henry? From pooping on carpets to traffic control, Henry’s gone full-fledged hero. And while she might not carry a badge or blow a whistle, her squawk stops cars in their tracks. Just don’t forget the cheese—she won’t egg-sist without it!