By Ben Montgomery
The North Jefferson News
FULTONDALE —
Fultondale Elementary School had a career day on Friday. City works employees, officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Fultondale Police Department, firefighters from the Fultondale Fire Department, Hurst Towing and Recovery, Fox 6 meteorologists, and Regional Paramedic Services went to the school to talk to the students about their jobs.
“I had lots of kids come up to me, especially the little ones, and tell me how excited they were. One first-grader said he wanted to be a meteorologist now,” said Susan Sullivan, a counselor at the school.
All of the jobs involved driving specialized vehicles, like tow trucks and ambulances.
“It’s a good visual,” said Sullivan. “Younger kids need that visual so they can learn.”
Kenny Williams, a city employee, showed the students his tractor and talked about how he drives it for the city and also cuts grass around Fultondale.
Public works employees Rick Glaze, John Posey, and Billy Walker showed students how their bucket truck works by lifting Sheila Haslam, another school counselor, up in the bucket.
“It’s pretty scary,” she said. “I was, like, ‘What if this thing gets stuck and doesn’t come down?’” Glaze explained to the students that there were separate controls in the bucket for just such an occasion, and they had procedures for getting the bucket down if it got stuck.
“We are very appreciative of all the volunteers,” said Sullivan. “It’s hard to take off during the work day to do something like this.”
Chick-fil-A, O’Charley’s and Winn-Dixie donated lunch and refreshments for the volunteers.
