Faculty & Staff Biographies

Greg Van Dam - 6th grade

Greg taught a combined 5th-6th grade at Desert Star last year and this year will teach the 6th grade and woodworking in 4th through 6th grade. He is an enthusiastic, artistic teacher well loved by his students. Greg graduated from the University of Colorado and owned a Mountain Biking shop prior to discovering Waldorf Education. He taught the 5th and 6th grades at another Waldorf Inspired charter school where he was also the Faculty chairperson. Greg is fluent in Spanish and has traveled extensively in South America and Mexico. He is working towards completing his Waldorf Teacher Training. Greg has a profound love for the outdoors and is a passionate mountain biker and hiker and loves Sedona. He also brings a love of physical education to the children and has created an exciting science curriculum for the 5h and 6th grades.

Ashley Majors - 4th & 5th grade teacher

Ashley graduated from the Univeristy of Georgia in the School of Journalism and was a journalist for many years. She is currently enrolled in the part time Waldorf Teacher Training program at Sunbridge College in New York and will receive her MA next summer. Ashley has been teaching art, science, math, outdoor activities and more at The Language School in Georgia. This is a private school for children with ADD, dyslexia and other learning difficulties. She often had mixed classes with children from 3rd grade to 12th grade. Ashley grew up on a farm and looks forward to developing gardens at Desert Star's new location in Cornville. After college Ashley worked at Yellowstone and developed a passion for the west. Ashley is the perfect addition to our staff as she says, "Developing schools are exciting to me and I am drawn to schools with a pioneering spirit as a way to continue my adventures in learning."

Sarah Akerson - 2nd & 3rd grades

Sarah attended Pine Hill Waldorf School from grades 1-8 and High Mowing School from grades 9-12, a Waldorf High School, in Wilton, New Hampshire. She had one of the most well respected class teachers in the Waldorf movement, Mark Birdsall, and she is following closely in his footsteps. This will be Sarah's second year at Desert Star and she will be teaching a combined class of grades 2 and 3. Last year in a combined 1st and 2nd grade class, Sarah's students entered school with a broad smile on their face as Sarah shook each of their hands and heard how their morning had gone. It was a very joyful class to observe. Prior to coming to Desert Star, she taught at Desert Marigold, a Waldorf Inspired charter school in Phoenix. Sarah attended Harvard University with a major in history and ran a private Waldorf pre-school in Colorado before moving to Sedona. Sarah loves hiking and biking outdoors and especially, running with her dog Lucy. Sarah's mother is also a long time Waldorf class teacher.

Brenda Green - 1st grade teacher

Brenda has witnessed the magic created by Waldorf education and cannot imagine a more rewarding profession than teaching. She was born and raised in Connecticut where she loved to ride and care for her horses and crawl among the slippery rocks of the shore searching for crabs and other marine life. Brenda lived in Florida for 16 years. She received her BS from the University of South Florida in Early Childhood Education (age 3-grade 3) and her MEd in August, 2007. She has participated in the part-time Waldorff teacher education program at Sunbridge College in New York. Brenda has a varied background in education including teaching toddlers through the Easters Seals program, Exceptional Student Education K-2, kindergarten teacher and first grade Waldorf teacher. She is passionate about students from diverse backgrounds and has enjoyed working in Title I schools. Brenda has also taught science outreach programs to elementary schools and through summer programs at G-Wiz Science Center in Sarasota, Florida. She is a member of the Sierra Club and C.G. Jung Society. For fun Brenda enjoys being in nature, fishing, reading, and white-water rafting.

Michelle Bordelon - Kindergarten

Michelle has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in elementary education from the University of New Orleans and has a teaching certificate for the elementary grades in the State of Louisiana. She has taught six years in private schools, three years in a Montessori charter school and one year in a Waldorf kindergarten. She has completed one third of her Waldorf teacher training the Rudolf Steiner College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michelle has lived in Sedona for 15 years and has a 11 year old daughter. When she is not teaching she enjoys traveling, writing and hiking.

Karen Boehm - Spanish and Handwork for all grades

Karen was born and raised in New York City and graduated cum laude from Queens College C.U.N.Y with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in secondary education. In the arts her areas of concentration were in oil painting and black and white photography. Karen loves working with children and has a great deal of experience in various educational settings. She has worked at Morningstar Childcare, a Waldorf early childhood program, as well as at the Headstart preschool as a teacher’s aide, Red Rock high in the special education department and is currently at Integrated Preschool working with both general population as well as special needs children. She has also taught art to both children and adults. She is a great supporter of the Waldorf education and her eldest children attended Terra Rosa for several years. Karen’s daughter Emma will be in second grade at Desert Star and she feels fortunate that her life will be enriched by the things a Waldorf education has to offer.

Rhonda Bierman - physical education, games and science for grades 1 through 6. kindergarten assistant in the mornings.

Working in Desert Star’s inspired teaching/learning environment with beautifully hearted children, devoted parents, gracious and talented colleagues, cradled in the magnificent, humbling land of Sedona, Rhonda feels she is “living her dream.” Rhonda graduated with honors and Bachelor of Science degree from Boston University, School of Education, and was awarded for her programs within the Boston Public School system. She continued Special Education studies at UCLA with clinical experience at the Marion Davies Neuro-psychiatric Institute, Braille Institute, and John Tracy Clinic.

She was profoundly influenced by her experience as Title 1 Assistant with Native American students. As Fire Prevention & Education Officer/Firefighter/Investigator, she fully embraced the US Forest Service mission statement, “Caring for the land and Serving People,” serving 26 years in California. She retired as one of the first few qualifying female wildland firefighters in the Region and received awards for her education programs (preschool-adult). A dedicated child advocate, she spent five additional years as teacher and substitute in the California public schools before moving to Arizona. Rhonda is a “devoted Mom” to her NAU son and to her dogs. She loves Nature, its creature’s “great and small,” hiking, swimming, art, fixing her home, caring and helping others.

Deanna Robinson

After graduating from UC Berkeley, Deanna received a Masters Degree in Social Work. She has worked with children of all ages and backgrounds, including special needs children. Her experience encompasses counseling, interviewing, crisis intervention, advocacy, training, and facilitating communication groups. Since moving to Sedona, Deanna spent one year as a Teacher’s Aide in a Montessori classroom and three years as a substitute teacher. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to become a part of the Waldorf community and to experience the dedication and commitment of all of it members. Deanna is married and has two stepdaughters and four grandchildren. She has had several foster children and was a Big Sister (through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization) for 14 years. She enjoys photography, reading, and spending time with friends and family.