Office & Administration
Administrative Director - Cheryl LeBlanc
Cheryl came to Desert Star School from a managerial background, with more than twenty years experience in business environments. She joined the School's administrative staff in 2009 and served in a variety of administrative and business roles since that time, helping to shape the operational aspects of the school in its younger years. Through her two children enrolled at Desert Star, Cheryl has connected to the pedagogy and classroom culture of the school across all grades K-8. As Administrator, Cheryl holds the role of principal and spokesperson for the school's operations and relationships. She holds a BA degree in Accounting and Business Management from Northeastern University.
Curriculum Administrator - Dru Smith-Crain
Dru completed her Waldorf Teacher Training at Rudolf Steiner College in 2009 and earned her BA in Environmental Studies in Sustainability at Prescott College, Prescott AZ. She holds a Master of Education in Administrative Leadership and Principalship (MEd) and is completing an MA in Environmental Studies focused on Goethean Science from Prescott College.
Initially Dru was drawn to Waldorf Education through an apprenticeship in biodynamic farming. She has served as a Public Waldorf teacher in grades one through eight for over 15 years. She loves spending time in the unique high desert environment studying the biotic relationships between the flora and fauna. She is particularly excited about the opportunity to help students and colleagues develop a sense of place, by practicing Goethean Observation as an inner path of self-development based on outer encounters with nature.
Bus Driver - Hiro Yabuuchi
2023 - 2024 Teaching Staff
Kindergarten- Armida Cervantez
Ms. Cervantez was blessed to grow up in California climbing trees, picking almonds and playing on the river. She was introduced to Waldorf Education through having a local Waldorf school and training program in her community. The education spoke to her and it reminded her of her own cultural upbringing with a oral storytelling and rich celebrations. She began attending lectures at Rudolf Steiner College when her first daughter was an infant. Later she would become involved in the Waldorf Charter School her children attended. She volunteered as a class parent, festival representative and as a member of the Board of Directors.
Her work experience includes assisting in private Waldorf kindergartens, and director of a private preschool. She has assisted in public Waldorf kindergartens and created her own home program which included a parent child program as well. She joins Desert Star Community School for her Third year of teaching in the grades. She has taught first and second grade classes. Her storytelling skills, enthusiasm for learning and warmth bring a sense of security and joy to her class.
She holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from Sierra College and a B.S. in Child Development from Walden University. She has training and education from Rudolf Steiner College, The Micha-el Institute, Gradalis, Lifeways Early Childhood program and Juniper Tree Puppets.
1st Grade Teacher - Interim Dru Smith-Crain
2nd Grade Teacher- Courtney Palmieri
Courtney Palmieri is the daughter of a military father and therefore, grew up all over the country. She settled in Connecticut where she earned her teaching certification and Masters Degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport. She taught in Waterbury, Connecticut and Virginia Beach, Virginia before she moved to Arizona. After sending her two daughters to Desert Star Community School, she witnessed how Waldorf education’s holistic approach benefited them more deeply. Inspired to do more for children, she began teaching at Desert Star and is currently in the process of becoming certified in Waldorf education.
3rd Grade Teacher- Kristine Mattson
Ms. Mattson was born in San Francisco and spent the first 40 years of her life in Northern California, never living more than 60 miles from her roots. She graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and a minor in Cultural Anthropology and, at the same time became a California licensed Paramedic. Kristine worked twenty years as a Paramedic while her three children attended the Davis Waldorf school. It was her children’s school experience that inspired Kristine to return to education. She trained as a Waldorf teacher through Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento. Since that time, she has moved every 4 years, teaching at different schools throughout the US in California, Utah, Hawaii, and most recently Arizona. Ms. Mattson has been teaching Waldorf education for fourteen years and has been at DSCS since 2018. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. Kevin McCauley, and enjoys living in Sedona.
4th Grade Teacher- Jackie James
5th Grade- Jeffrey Holmes
Jeffrey Holmes has been teaching as a Waldorf teacher for more than two decades and continually feels invigorated when sharing his knowledge with both elementary and middle school students. Jeffrey received his B.A. from Prescott College with a double major in visual arts and creative writing. He then went on to receive his Masters of Fine Arts in painting from Arizona State University. After receiving his M.F.A., Jeff began his Waldorf teacher training and began his wonderful journey as a Waldorf teacher, bringing the wonders of both the natural and cultural worlds to his students.
6th Grade- Joseph Giulietti
Joseph grew up in Connecticut and attended the University of Connecticut where he earned a Masters of Arts in Education. He taught elementary school in Connecticut for five years before moving to Europe. He taught elementary grades at International Schools in Hungary and The Netherlands for another five years. He returned to Connecticut to teach elementary and middle school before joining us here in 2013 at Desert Star Community School. Joseph has been teaching middle school grades and academic support.
7th Grade Teacher - Harper Rose Harris
Harper Rose is a New England native who made her way to the Verde Valley driven by a passion for public Waldorf education. She earned her BDIC from University of Massachusetts Amherst in Sustainable Healing through Art and Medicinal Plants. After starting a family, she sought education alternatives which led her to discover Waldorf education. Once the lantern was lit, the path illuminated and Harper Rose earned her Master’s degree in Elementary/Early Childhood Education with Waldorf Certification from Antioch University New England. Her experiences of vastly varied standards of living and education sparked her interest in bridging the socioeconomic gaps in access to education and these drives toward social justice have influenced Harper Rose's mediation and social/organizational leadership trainings.
8th Grade Teacher- Frank Plucker
Mr. Plucker grew up in Northern Arizona and earned his Associates Degree at Yavapai College. He then completed a bachelor’s degree at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington before moving to California we he began a family and worked in biodynamic agriculture while his two older children attended a Waldorf charter school. His work with his children’s school inspired him to complete a master’s degree in child and adolescent development and he completed the Calstate TEACH teacher training program. He returned to Northern Arizona and has been teaching at Desert Star Community School since 2013 as a class teacher. He is dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of learning in his students.
Specialty Teachers
Handwork & Upper Grades Art- Karen Boehm
Karen Boehm holds an Associate of Arts degree from Queensborough Community College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Education Cum Laude degree from Queens College, City University of New York. She has studied at Parsons School of Design in NYC, Rudolf Steiner College in Sacramento, Yavapai College in Arizona, Waldorf Institute of Southern California and has taken numerous continuing education and behavioral workshops. Karen has been with Desert Star Community School since its inception in 2006 when she enrolled her youngest daughter into the first grade.
Upper Grades Physical Education & Woodworking- Tom Cadigan
Tom Cadigan has B.A. of Arts in Education and is a State certified teacher. He grew up in Arizona and was introduced to Waldorf Education in 2009. He has been a coach and physical education teacher for over forty years. He currently teaches Physical Education and Woodworking. His experience and love for children contributes to the academic and emotional success of the students.
Lower Grades Physical Education - Elizabeth Rhoman
Lady Elizabeth Rhoman was born and raised in Northern Arizona. She has worked with young children for 20 years. She has been involved in Waldorf education for the past 6 years and loves the appreciation Waldorf has for preserving childhood. Working at her children's school has been a blessing and she is excited to continue her involvement with the school by teaching lower grades games.
Reading Intervention - Leah Joy-Oberg
Leah Joy-Oberg grew up on a farm in Illinois, the 12th of 15 children. After high school she attended CE School of Commerce in Omaha, earned her secretarial certificate to work her way through college, and received a BA degree in Child Development at Cal-State Los Angeles. She then went to Sierra Leone, Africa in the Peace Corps, and worked with teachers. She followed that with 30 years combined experience as a classroom teacher and reading intervention coach, 12 of those years in California, and 6 in the East Coast where she received her Master’s Degree in Education at Plymouth State College, NH. In 2002 she moved to southern AZ where she met the love of her life.
Alongside her work in education, she has been passionate about health, studied yoga, and received certificates in health and life coaching. She is a believer that learning to read is a foundation for all of life and loves working at Desert Star!
Reading & ELL Specialist - Ann Satran
Ann graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BS in Elementary Education and a MS in Educational Leadership. For over thirty years she has taught grades K to 6th, Title 1 Reading, English as a Second language, curriculum, and been in leadership. Being a lifelong learner, she is inspired to be part of the DSCS staff and continue learning from students and the teachers.
Special Education Teacher -
Position currently open