Mr. Dievendorf earned his BA in English Literature with a Creative Writing Emphasis from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia University. He spent the majority of his career at the college level, where he taught composition, literature, and creative writing. Beyond the classroom, he served as the Fiction Editor of Apogee Journal and helped run the Hudson Valley Writers’ Center in Sleepy Hollow, NY. 

Mr. Dievendorf first joined BASIS Independent Schools as a Subject Expert English Teacher at Fremont Upper School. His teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that writing and literature have the power to transform the way students see themselves and the world. Literary studies encourage students to engage with nuance, abstraction, complexity, and imagination. Through the work of analysis, they learn to uncover layers of meaning and, as writers, develop the ability to organize their thoughts, hone their voice, and create meaning of their own. They gain critical and creative thinking skills to more deeply explore the world around them and discover their place in it. His goal is to inspire students to appreciate what Language Arts has to offer and to use it as a tool to better themselves. Mr. Dievendorf is proud to be a founding member of BASIS Independent Dublin. 

In addition to teaching, Mr. Dievendorf loves reading and writing fiction and is a compulsive book collector. He enjoys running around with his dog, testing out recipes, and trying to learn a new language.

Are there any highlights you’d like to share about your teaching philosophy or approach? 

I treat literature as a gateway to explore the broader world, and writing and analysis as navigation tools. My students learn that a text is conceptually rich and invites them to consider the social, cultural, and historical context that shaped it. Our work encourages critical and creative thinking, venturing through layers of meaning, bridging seemingly disparate ideas, and mapping out new intellectual discoveries. Ultimately, I see our coursework as essential to my students’ success across disciplines by preparing them to think critically and communicate effectively. 

What are some of the most rewarding parts of being a Subject Expert Teacher and working with BASIS Independent Schools students?  

BASIS Independent Schools maintains a rare balance between teacher independence and student rigor. I deeply value how much the school trusts its Subject Expert Teachers to develop their own independent resources and lesson plans. This, paired with its culture of rigor and achievement through the BASIS Curriculum, inspires genuine curiosity and academic engagement. It leads to a dedicated collegiate classroom community strengthened by collaboration, intellectual inquiry, and passion. I am consistently impressed by how well my students meet the demands of university-level coursework. 

Are there any thoughts that you’d like to share with families who are joining – or who are thinking of joining – the BASIS Independent Dublin community? 

From my perspective, BASIS Independent Dublin offers a unique and invaluable opportunity. Its founding leaders have brought together some of the most talented and thoughtful educators I’ve met to build an academic program and vibrant culture from the ground up. This founding team will lay the foundation for an extraordinary school, and its early families will be essential to that process. I’m looking forward to seeing our academic community grow.  

BASIS Independent Dublin is a Grades 6 – 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the BASIS Independent Dublin community? To join our interest list for the next school year and receive admissions updates and more, please click here.