Office & Administration
Administrative Director (Principal)- Cheryl LeBlanc
Cheryl came to Desert Star School from a managerial background in 2010, 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.
Administratvie Assistant - Amy Harris
Bus Driver - Hiro Yabuuchi
2024 - 2025 Teaching Staff
Kindergarten- Armida Cervantez
Teacher Armida, has taught at Desert Star for 8 years. She has taught Kindergarten for 3.5 years at Desert Star and has worked in early childhood settings for 17 years. She holds an MA in Education and a Waldorf Early Childhood Certificate through WECAN and Great Lakes Waldorf Institute. She is a mother to three exceptional children and grandmother to two. She lives with her loving husband of 30 years, with two cats, a dog, fish and chickens.
1st & 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
Kristine Mattson was born in San Francisco. 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. Since that time, she has moved every 4 years with her husband, teaching at different Waldorf schools throughout the US in California, Utah, Hawaii, and most recently Arizona. Ms. Mattson has been teaching Waldorf education for sixteen years and has been at DSCS since 2018.
4th Grade Teacher- Natasha Shealy
Natasha Shealy found her way to Desert Star through volunteering at the school, building the garden program. She has worked part time in the lower grades, becoming faculty in 2023. She has a background in journalism, arts, crafts and homesteding, having grown up in Sedona and Western North Carolina, where her community surrounded her with teachers, quilters, organic gardeners. and students of Rudolph Steiner. She received a BA from UNC Asheville and Penland School of Crafts. She finished her first year in Foundation Studies through the school, and is currently in the Saguaro Center for Teacher Renewal in Phoenix.
5th Grade- Jackie James
Jackie James is a California native whose dynamic path led her to Waldorf education and to Desert Star. She earned her Bachelor’s in Child Development from the California State University - Fullerton. Jackie’s passion for all things holistic inspired her to study Rudolph Steiner in her early twenties. Her skills as an educator blossomed in California classrooms for behaviorally challenged students, which brought a deep sense of compassion for children coming from difficult backgrounds, a compassion she brings to all classrooms.
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 - Nima Duncan
Nima is currently a long-term substitute until we hire for the position.
8th Grade Teacher- Harper Rose
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.
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 - Erin Boisrond
Erin Boisrond is a native of Southern Coastal Maine, and has lived in the Verde Valley for 9 years with her husband and 8 year-old twins (who attend Desert Star). Erin has her degree in Special Education (K-12) from the University of Maine, and has 15 years of teaching experience both in Maine and here in Arizona. Erin has years of experience as a K-12 special education director, and as a program director, developing and implementing programming for young adults with disabilities. Inspired by understanding brain function and neurodiversity in children, teens and adults, Erin is looking forward to applying this passion to Waldorf education. Her dedication to being a lifelong learner drives her enthusiasm for embracing the Waldorf model.