Office & Administration

Executive Director- Nima Duncan

Nima brings over 14 years of experience working with youth and families in schools and nonprofit settings, including leadership roles as Head of School in both Washington and California. Nima first came to Desert Star to support development and outreach, but quickly stepped in as the 7th grade teacher, where he served students and families with warmth, dedication, and depth. He holds graduate-level education in the humanities and has taught a wide range of subjects to students of all ages. A devoted student of Rudolf Steiner’s work, Nima is currently enrolled in the Waldorf Leadership Development program at the Center for Anthroposophy. His leadership is deeply rooted in the values of Waldorf education and in the belief that schools can thrive as living, dynamic communities.

Office Manager - Amy Harris

Receptionist - Lisa Johnson

2026 - 2027 Teaching Staff

Kindergarten- Kristin Hunt

Coming soon…

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- 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.

4rth Grade- Trina Hetherington

Coming soon…

5th Grade Teacher- Tammie jones

Coming soon…

6th Grade Teacher- Kris 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.

7th 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.

8th Grade- Joseph Giulietti

Joseph grew up in Connecticut and attended the University of Connecticut where he earned a Master 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.

Specialty Teachers

Handwork & Visual 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.

Music education- Chris alcaraz

Coming soon…

Upper Grades Movement & woodwork- 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.

Lower Grades movement - 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!

Special Education Director - sonya Rowe

Coming soon…