Nina Burgess – 6th grade
Peter Wollheim - 5th grade
Peter is entering his thirteenth year as a classroom
teacher but has been working
with children in different milieu's for over twenty
years. He has been a foster care
worker, group home counselor and has worked in
the family court in the Bronx, NY.
Since reading about Rudolph Steiner and Waldorf
education seven years ago, he says
he was fascinated by it and gravitated towards
learning more about it. After observing the beauty
and holistic approach to education in a Waldorf
classroom, it led him and his wife Sarah to investigate
Waldorf for their own children. His son. Samuel,
has been attending a Waldorf school in Maine for
six years and his daughter, Bella, for three.
Though teaching in a public school, his own classrooms
over the years have clearly taken on a Waldorf
character. He has Multiple Intelligences in his
classroom every day. Peter Received his BA in
Administration of Justice from Rutgers University
and his MEd from University of New Haven. He says
he is very excited to bring his experience and
love of teaching and children to Desert Star and
is looking forward to growing and learning with
his students in the coming years. His family is
excited to be surrounded by the beauty of Cornville
and the surrounding area. They are relocating
from New Hampshire where his interests include
rustic woodworking, going to the beach, hiking,
gardening and being with his wife, two children
and dog.
Traci Sele - 4th grade
Growing up in central California's wine country
and only 15 minutes from the ocean, Traci decided
to move to the midwest after high school. Finding
Valparaiso University to be rich in its natural
surroundings, as well as having 4 very different
seasons, she loved the new atmosphere and appreciated
her home in California even more.
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts with a major
in Theater and minor in Music, she decided to
follow her dream of becoming a teacher. Her original
plan was to pursue a career in theater and then
become a teacher. In her final year of undergraduate
studies she decided to not wait and jump right
in. Fortunately, there was a Master's program
through her University made for students just
like her. She earned her Master's while teaching
in an 'at-risk/underpriviledged' parochial school
on Chicago's Southside. She taught a 1st and 2nd
grade combination class for 3 years. After Chicago she decided to move back out west
to teach in the beautiful and weather friendly
Arizona. She taught 4th grade in Chino Valley,
then 6th grade in gorgeous Sedona, and is very
excited for the new adventure into Waldorf education,
teaching 3rd grade.
Deborah
Williams - 3rd grade
Looking out into the beauty of the desert from
her classroom window while spending time with
these remarkable children, Deborah is pleased
to be near nature and teaching at a school with
conscious, green intentions. She began her journey
into teaching with a BA in education from Westminster
College in PA, and shortly afterwards, moved out
west to Flagstaff, Arizona, where she acquired
her AZ state teaching credential. Here, she spent
a year as a Kindergarten assistant in a Montessori
school, and soon received the honored opportunity
to descend into the Grand Canyon and teach in
the Kindergarten with the Havasupai people.
She relocated in Prescott, and
was then introduced to Waldorf education for the
first time while assisting a master Waldorf teacher
in her 2nd/3rd grade private classroom. Soon,
she was offered a position at Terra Rosa in Sedona
as the first grade teacher. After teaching there
for a year, Deborah was re-introduced to Montessori
education, and went on to teach at Sedona Charter
School for five years. She became Montessori certified
in the 6-9 age group, served as the Principal
Educator for one year, and finished her Master's
of Education degree. Now Deborah is pleased to have
re-entered the Waldorf teaching sphere, yet bring
her understanding of Montessori education, as
well. She has received two separate week-long
intensive trainings at the Rudolf Steiner College.
When not in the classroom, Deborah enjoys nature,
organic gardening, backpacking, kayaking, yoga,
biking, music, and dancing.
Kate Russell - 2nd grade
Marc
Bruehl - 1st grade
Marc is celebrating his thirtieth year as a Waldorf
teacher. He received his BA degree at Franklin
& Marshall College and his M.Ed. and Waldorf
Certification degrees at Adelphi University, in
Garden City, NY. Marc began his teaching career
at The Waldorf School in Lexington, MA. In 1981,
he took his first class at the Pine Hill School
in Wilton, NH, where he was a class teacher for
12 years. Marc returned to Lexington School to
graduate his second class. In 1999, lured by the
red rocks and former colleagues, Marc joined the
Terra Rosa Charter School. In 2005, Marc became
the Pedagogical Director at the Desert Marigold
School in Phoenix. After two years, he returned
to private Waldorf education, joining the Cedarwood
Waldorf School in Portland, Oregon as the 6th
and 7th grade teacher. For over twenty years,
Marc has enjoyed working closely with teachers
as a mentor and evaluator through Antioch, ARRTEC,
and the Sacramento Training Programs. Over the
years, Marc has lectured on the Waldorf curriculum
and child development. Outside of the classroom,
Marc enjoys hiking and canoeing with his wife
Pam.
Pamela
Bruehl - K
Pam was introduced to Waldorf education 25 years
ago, when her oldest daughter entered first grade
in the Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton, New
Hampshire. As an active parent, Pam assisted in
handwork classes, chaired a Winter Faire, and
helped to raise funds as a Development Committee
member. Her participation also included Waldorf
education study groups. This led Pam to Antioch
New England Graduate School where she received
her Waldorf Teacher Training Certificate. Pam
received her B.A. in Elementary Education at Prescott
College. She holds an Arizona State Certification.
Pam began her work in Waldorf education in 1993
at The Waldorf School in Lexington, Massachusetts,
where she taught grades 3 through 7. She taught
at Terra Rosa School in Sedona, and Desert Marigold
School in Phoenix. Pam recently returned to Sedona
from Cedarwood School in Portland, Oregon.
Pam has mentored teachers to support Antioch
New England graduate students, Arizona Red Rock
Teacher Education Center students, and the Center
for Anthroposophy students in their foundation
studies.
Pam enjoys the outdoors, particularly gardening,
hiking, and canoeing. Her newest interests are
drumming and cello playing.
Specialty Teachers
Karen
Boehm - 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 fourth 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 - Environmental Science and Games Teacher Grades 1-6th
Working in Desert Star’s inspired environment
with beautifully hearted children, devoted parents,
talented colleagues, cradled in the humbling land
of Sedona, Rhonda feels she is living a dream.
Rhonda graduated 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.
She was profoundly influenced by her experience
as Title 1 Assistant with American Indian 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 receiving 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 has received Waldorf training at Rudolph
Steiner College and through private mentoring
by Waldorf Specialists. She is a devoted Mom to
her son and to her dogs. She loves Nature and
its “creature’s great and small.”
Catherine
Weld - Remedial Specialist
Catherine Weld spent 20 years at Pine Hill Waldorf
School in New Hampshire as an involved parent,
admissions coordinator, fundraiser, administrator
and remedial teacher. Her two children both attended
Pine Hill kindergarten through grade 8. Catherine
has an BA from Kenyon College and MA from Tufts
University. She began her teaching career teaching
high school in Baltimore. She has completed the
Waldorf Administrator's Training and the Waldorf
Remedial Training. Catherine taught at Terra Rosa
School in Sedona as well as Gateway School. Her
real love is helping children overcome their difficulties
and attain success and joy in school.
She is an avid hiker and canoeist and loves working
in a Waldorf Inspired Charter School.
Updated 7-14-09
Faculty & Staff Biographies