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Principal's Bio
It is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself as the Principal of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School (DDE). My name is Marilyn Cosme Bright and I have been an educator for 25 years. I have been with the Berlin Township school district for over 19 years, first as Principal of the John F. Kennedy Elementary and currently as the Principal of the middle school. It is my sincere pleasure to watch our students grow and mature in all aspects of their lives as they navigate through the complexities of adolescence and middle school. By the way, we truly have the best students at DDE!
Prior to coming to Berlin Township Schools I taught students with special needs and remedial reading. I earned both my master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Rowan University. My New Jersey educator certifications include Principal, Supervisor, Certificate of Eligibility for School Leader (Superintendent of Schools), Teacher of the Handicapped, Reading Teacher, and Elementary Teacher.
Also, I serve as the Affirmative Action Officer for Berlin Township Schools.
DDE Through the Years...
The Dwight D. Eisenhower (DDE) Middle School was built in 1968. There was a small addition of four classrooms added in 1972. In 1993 the school was expanded once again to add the media center, computer lab, art room and music room. In 2000 with the dissolution of Lower Camden County Regional School District and the return of students in grades 7 & 8 to DDE, the school was expanded once again to add the gym, locker rooms and a few more classrooms. The school grounds include a baseball and softball field which are used by the DDE baseball and softball teams. Although the formal name of the school is Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial School, we commonly refer to it as DDE Middle School.
Wildly Important Goal 2025 - 2026
DDE Middle School will increase the Average Daily Attendance rate from 93% (2024 - 2025 school year) to 94% by end of the first trimester - December 3, 2025.
Welcome to DDE Middle School
Welcome to DDE Middle School
This year at DDE Middle School, we are continuing to emphasize something that is at the heart of all learning and that is relationships. At DDE we believe in the philosophy of “Connections Before Content.” That means before we dive into math, science, reading, or social studies, we make sure every student feels seen, heard, and valued.
We know students learn best when they feel safe, respected, and connected to the adults around them. Our teachers are working hard to build those strong bonds from day one—and we encourage you to do the same at home. Ask your child about their day, who they sat with at lunch, or something new they learned.
You may have heard your child mention something called “The Leader in Me.” This is a school-wide program based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People—adapted for young minds.
These habits include:
Be Proactive
Begin with the End in Mind
Put First Things First
Think Win-Win
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Synergize
Sharpen the Saw
Our goal is to empower every student—not just academically, but socially and emotionally—to see themselves as leaders in their own lives and in our community. You’ll see leadership opportunities popping up across the school, from classroom helpers to the Student Government Association and service projects.
As we help students grow into effective leaders, we also want to hold them to high expectations. Last month, the Board of Education approved a revised Code of Conduct—and I’d like to highlight two key areas:
The first is Dress Code: We are reinforcing guidelines that promote a respectful, distraction-free learning environment. Please review the specifics in the Student Handbook or on the posters hanging around the school and in the student restrooms. We want students to feel confident and comfortable while also being school-ready.
The second is Cell Phones: We are continuing our "Away for the Day" protocol. Before students enter the school, they must turn off their cell phones and store them either in their locker or backpack. Students are not permitted to carry their cell phones in school. This helps students stay focused, reduce distractions, and engage with each other face-to-face—building those all-important relationship skills.
Another key part of success this year is showing up—every day, on time, for the full school day and ready to learn. Research shows that students who miss even just a few days each month fall behind. Our goal is full-day attendance, every day. Of course, if your child is sick, please keep them home—but let’s work together to avoid unnecessary absences and build great habits.
I want to thank our families for being our partners in education. Our theme this year is about leading with the heart and showing up every day. This applies to our students, our staff, and our families.
Let’s continue to work together to help every child not only succeed in school—but thrive in life!
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School is proud to be a Leader in Me School. Leader in Me is an evidence-based PK-12 model, developed in partnership with educators and designed to build leadership in students, create a high-trust culture, and improve academic achievement
We focus on developing the whole child by:
Teaching leadership to every student.
Creating a culture of student empowerment.
Aligning systems to drive results in academics.
We use two frameworks in our work as a leadership school:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People helps us learn and apply leadership skills and gives us a common language for building a supportive school environment.
The 4 Disciplines of Execution helps us to identify, track, and achieve academic and personal Wildly Important Goals (WIGs).
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