When teacher Steven Bizoe gently kicked the stool out from beneath Elizabeth Green’s feet, she remained suspended in mid air.

That’s because Howard Elementary School students and staff using approximately 200 yards of blue and yellow duct tape had just taped the physical education teacher to the wall.

“I was very excited about trying it and seeing if it would hold,” Green said. “I was a little bit apprehensive at the beginning, but it was very fun.”

The taping of the teacher was a reward for the school raising $3,955.24 in the Jump Rope for Heart challenge over a period of two weeks.

Green said it was the most the school had ever raised in seven years participating in the challenge.

“I am so proud of our Howard-Ellis school staff, administrators, the community of Niles and how much they have come together to help support this program and event,” she said.

Prior to the taping, awards and medallions were awarded to top donation collectors and the class that collected the most donations.

Student Jawan Wilson collected the most money in the school, $260. Teacher Emilee Lake’s class collected the most money, $851.

Students Rylan Custard, Cindy Walters, Ethan Jacobs, Brayden Zimmerman, Johny Muday and Conner Weston were recognized for collecting more than $150 each.

Fifty-nine other students were also thanked for raising at least $15.

During the week of March 17-21, students collected donations from the local community for the American Heart Association, where together they raised nearly $4,000. The money raised will be used for heart and stroke research and community and educational programs for the community’s youth.

“I am so excited Howard took the opportunity and did a phenomenal job,” said Krisca Gould, Midwest representative for the American Heart Association, at the assembly. “We can use education to combat this (heart disease).”