Dwight D. Eisenhower School
The Dwight D. Eisenhower School (DDES) officially opened its doors to the students of Freehold Township in February of 1971. The first administration consisted of Superintendent Marshall W. Errickson, Assistant Superintendent Peter Burroughs, and Principal Lloyd Belton. During this first year of operation, Eisenhower housed 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students along with a staff of thirty-five dedicated teachers who prepared the first graduating class of 151 students for high school. Through the balance of the 70's, Eisenhower remained a 6th, 7th and 8th grade middle school.
The 80's brought changes to our administration as well as the introduction of technology. Dr. David Cole was appointed Superintendent of Freehold Township Schools and Mr. Joseph Quirk became the new Principal of DDES. From 1985 to 1992 Eisenhower housed only 7th and 8th grade students of Freehold Township.
The 90's would prove to be a decade of transition. Dr. William Setaro was appointed Assistant Superintendent in 1994, following the retirement of Mr. Peter Burroughs. In 1993, 6th grade students rejoined Eisenhower and in 1995 Dr. Robert Colangelo became the Principal. The following year, the first Assistant Principal of Eisenhower School, Ms. Carolyn Kossack, was appointed. Together with Dr. Colangelo, Ms. Kossack and a staff of highly talented and dedicated teachers, the TEAM concept emerged.
Dr. Peter Bastardo became the new Superintendent of Freehold Township Schools in 1997 and would "chart the course" into the new millennium. During the 1998-1999 school year, Dr. Catherine Snyder joined Freehold Township Schools as Assistant Superintendent, a position she shared with Dr. William Setaro. In 1998, Eisenhower was officially renamed as Eisenhower Middle School and plans to build an addition became a reality. Construction was completed in stages and by September of 1999, the new wing was fully functioning and occupied by our 8th grade students.
The next few years at Eisenhower would prove to be a challenge as we had many changes in administration. In December of 2000, Dr. Colangelo retired and Ms. Kossack accepted the role as Principal with vigor and enthusiasm. She was assisted by Mr. Joseph Bookholdtz until June of 2001. The following September Mrs. Dianne Brethauer became Eisenhower's new Assistant Principal.
As December of '01 approached, we bid a bittersweet farewell to Mrs. Barbara Kane, Eisenhower's first and only Secretary to the Principal. She will always be remembered as the "voice of Eisenhower", second to none, for her warm, welcoming and reassuring announcements over the public address system.
With the coming of the new 2002-2003 school year, Eisenhower was directed by the leadership of our new Principal, Dr. Sandra Brower and Assistant Principal, Mr. Patrick Leary. In August of '03, Superintendent Dr. Peter Bastardo bid farewell to Freehold Township and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Catherine Snyder took over the role of Superintendent of the Freehold Township Elementary/Middle School District.
Eisenhower took on a "new look" with the opening of our 6th grade wing in September of '04. Click on the Construction Update link to view a picture journal of the wing progress. December of '04 brought another change in our administration. We said our goodbyes to our Assistant Principal, Mr. Patrick Leary and welcomed our new Interim Assistant Principal, Mr. Richard Thompson, who remained with us until June.
The '05-'06 school year brought yet another change to Eisenhower's administration. We congratulated our Principal, Dr. Sandra Brower, who took on her new role as Assistant Superintendent of Freehold Township Schools accompanied by Janet Creech, Assistant Superintendent, and we welcomed back Mrs. Dianne Brethauer as our new Principal, accompanied by Assistant Principal, Mr. Richard Stec.
Upon the retirement of Superintendent Dr. Catherine Snyder in June of 2006, Dr. Bill Setaro "came home" to Freehold Township and assumed the role of Superintendent.
As the 2007-2008 school year begins, Eisenhower's new Assistant Principal is Mr. Richard Ginn.
While we sail further into this new millennium with our new leadership in place, Eisenhower Middle School maintains its mission: to encourage children to reach their unique potential and to empower them to become lifelong learners.
Angela Juffey