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Who knew learning about electricity could be so much fun?

This young lady has the right ideas about safety.
This young lady has the right ideas about safety.

Don’t call them TECO team members-to-be just yet – they’re only in preschool, after all – but students of Primrose School of South Tampa might be a little closer to careers at the company after a visit from three Tampa Electric veterans who work on the front lines of power delivery.

Linemen Justin Hallman and Scott Buzbee joined Brent Newsome, groundman equipment line operator, for a visit to the school in April. They gave their young audience a close-up look at the equipment they and other team members use daily to ensure that electricity safely and reliably reaches the community.

Wendy Anastasiou, supervisor of the Residential Audit Program with Tampa Electric’s Energy Management Services team, arranged the visit.

Justin Hallman, Scott Buzbee and Brent Newsome teach the students about the equipment they use on the job.
Justin Hallman, Scott Buzbee and Brent Newsome teach the students about the equipment they use on the job.

“I heard great comments from parents about the April 21 visit,” she said. “Their kids told them all about TECO coming to school to talk about “lectricity.” The school administrators and the teachers were thrilled for the opportunity to be involved in the activity – going up in the bucket or wearing gloves while racing with each other to get nuts onto bolts fastest. They asked me to be sure to express how delighted they were with Justin, Scott and Brent.”

Jennifer Vasquez, senior assistant director of School Operations with Primrose, agreed.

“We loved the visit from TECO – the teachers had as much fun as the students!” she said.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to spread the word about our commitment to the community – especially when it comes to electrical safety,” said Tony Pettys, line supervisor with Tampa Electric. “This visit hit all the right notes.”

Along with safety, the children learned about the importance of saving energy. They peppered Hallman, Buzbee and Newsome with questions. And they marveled at the tools of the trade.

“The children really enjoyed learning that our linemen use “pigs,” and “blankets” and really cool things that telescope way up high into the sky – we call them buckets at TECO, even though one child named it the “giraffe,”” Anastasiou said. “You should’ve seen those little faces light up.”

1 Comment

  • Peggy Steele

    I love it! Future employees to one day recruit! What a great idea that looked like a lot of fun.

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