New principal gets in tune with Bluffton High students

Given his musical background, it's not surprising Mark Dievendorf thinks of his school as a symphony orchestra and himself as its conductor.

The audience doesn't hear the conductor's music as he quietly works to achieve harmony. But Bluffton High School's new principal says he is a facilitator, bringing together the talents of individuals to create a performance worthy of applause.

"Like a conductor, a (principal) is a cheerleader and a motivator," he said. "And you might have to make some corrections, if someone isn't playing the right note."

Dievendorf became Bluffton High's third principal since the school's 2004 opening, succeeding Robert Anderson in July. Anderson now works in the Beaufort County School District's instructional services division.

Dievendorf -- or "Mr. D," as students call him -- has decades of experience with both music and school leadership.

He began playing the trombone in fourth grade and joined his first band in high school after learning to play the rock band Chicago's music by ear in his family's basement.

Dievendorf, now 54, put himself through college by playing in lounges throughout Michigan, and in other parts of the country with performers such as the Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson and Aaron Neville. He spent the past several years playing trombone and singing with the Hip Pocket, a 10-piece R&B band based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

He left his band and job as principal of Jenison High School in Michigan to move to Beaufort County this summer.

Dievendorf and his wife had vacationed in Beaufort for about eight years, and she recently retired from teaching kindergarten. For family medical reasons, they wanted to be in a warmer climate and close to quality medical facilities.

"We just fell in love with it," he said. "This is where we need to be."

Dievendorf was a band, orchestra and choir director before serving 18 years as principal of Jenison High School.

The school has been recognized several times in Newsweek Magazine's list of "America's Best High Schools." It also boasts an award-winning music program and has been named a Grammy Foundation Signature School.

Dievendorf pondered keys to the school's success as he sat in his office last week, among photos of his wife, three daughters and former students, as well as a world map and newspaper clippings about Bluffton High's recent football victories.

He said he's most proud of the learning environment built at Jenison.

"Students, parents and staff were invested," he said. "They had part ownership. When you have that, achievement abounds."

Superintendent Valerie Truesdale said Dievendorf was hired because of his record of improving student achievement and references from former students and employees who raved about his willingness to include teachers in decision-making and cultivate school spirit.

"In his case, it was a very strong consensus very quickly that he was a good match," Truesdale said.

Dievendorf said he's trying this year to put together a realistic picture of the school environment and student achievement at Bluffton High. He has prepared surveys to distribute to students, staff and parents about their perceptions of the school.

He already has taken a few steps to encourage students to invest in their school. For example, he gave each grade lockers on the same floor of the building this year, instead of mixing students of all grade levels throughout the school. Seniors picked the floor they wanted, and classes can decorate their floor to show school pride for Homecoming week.

"It may be very simple, but seniors were very excited about having a say. It's enhanced our building environment," he said.

Dievendorf also began dedicating the raising of the school flag each morning to a specific cause, such as improved results on college-entrance exams, a student who published her first book or a teacher who learned she was pregnant.

"There's a lot of positive things that go on, and they just need to be communicated," he said. "We need to have a challenging atmosphere, but kids also need to have fun."

Kevin Sandusky, a science teacher at Bluffton High, said those efforts to build school pride are paying off, and he said the school's leaders feel Dievendorf backs their decisions.

"We've had what's probably been one of our best starts of school ever," he said.