BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Elementary School has gained grant funds to outfit classrooms for improved learning.

The school received more than $8,288 from the Miller-Daffin Family Foundation, Inc., which will be used to purchase flexible seating, hands-on activities for language arts, science and math, shelving units to organize the items and classroom materials to benefit kindergarten and second-grade students. Officials said the items should be onsite soon.

“We have to acquire them by February, but the teachers are anxious to get them. I hope to have them in the next month,” said Michelle Heilman, a Title I kindergarten teacher at BES who wrote the grant.

Heilman said the grant has primarily supported kindergarten pupils but was also extended to second-grade this year.

The school’s affiliation began when foundation officials contacted the site in hopes of providing financial opportunities. Bridgeport was one of the few local schools to apply and has obtained more than $60,700 over the past 11 years for iPads, charging carts, STEM activities and multiple English/Language Arts and math activities. She said some seating was also purchased during last year’s round.

“It seems like every year the teachers need more and more,” Heilman added. “I ask teachers what they want and they make lists all year. We usually do kindergarten but had the ability to extend it to the new second-grade teacher for books.”

Among those benefitting from the latest allocation are Heilman and fellow teachers Caitlyn Miller, Miki Clegg and Morgan Castilow in kindergarten and Kylee Cowser in second grade. Heilman was grateful to the foundation and said the grants have made a real difference.

“I think it’s wonderful,” she noted. “I don’t know where we would be without this opportunity. It’s amazing.”

Principal Kamaron Sabinski also appreciated the award and said the foundation has been very supportive of the school.

“We have been so blessed,” she said. “For many years, our kindergarten team has applied for the grant, and every time the funds have been spent for materials the children use in class. Every year, the kindergarten team sends a booklet with photos of the children using everything they have received. Our teachers truly research what they can purchase for the kids.”

The Miller-Daffin Family Foundation has close ties to education because it was created by retired kindergarten teacher Norma Daffin in 2001.

Daffin had taught in Berea and Lakewood, Ohio, schools and her intention was to improve children’s skills in the areas of Language Arts, math, science and social studies.

Since her passing, her family has maintained the foundation and carries on her legacy of improving education for students.