Faculty & Administration
Nevada Sage Waldorf School takes pride in its dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to providing a nurturing environment for students to thrive. Our team consists of passionate individuals who bring creativity and expertise to the classroom, ensuring a holistic learning experience for every child.
Meet Our
Administrator
Mr. Roland Trub
Mr. Roland Trub is a visionary leader with a deep understanding of Waldorf education. He has owned multiple businesses (including a toy store!) and has experience as a parent of children who attended a Waldorf school. His unwavering dedication to the school's mission and values inspires both students and faculty. As our administrator, he fosters a culture of continuous learning and personal growth.
Our Administration
Early Childhood Faculty
Chamomile Nursery
Lead Teacher
Miss Amber
Ms. Amber has been a shepherd of healthy child development for many years. She has worked for 4 years at Mater Academy Charter School as a 2nd grade teacher’s assistant, phonics and small group specialist, and occasional substitute teacher. These years lit a fiery passion for learning and teaching. As the matriarch of her family, Amber enjoys being a leader, teacher, mother and sister. She is in dual pursuit of an Associate of Arts Elementary Education Teacher Preparation from Truckee Meadows Community College and a Waldorf Teacher Certification from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teaching in El Sobrante, California. Amber is passionate about social emotional learning and finding gratitude within each day. The Waldorf pedagogy aligns with her naturally loving personality, making for a perfect fit. When she’s not teaching at school, Amber is enjoying raising her young daughter. They enjoy telling stories and dancing, as well as nature infused activities, such as swimming and exploring the Nevada area.
Chamomile Nursery Assistant Teacher
Isabel Dimas
Miss Isabel was born and raised in California and moved to Reno, Nevada in 2020. She has spent her time with Nevada Sage Waldorf School supporting the early childhood teachers as an assistant. She enriches her teaching experiences by eagerly attending Waldorf professional development conferences and classes. Isabel enjoys spending her free time with her son and other family. Isabel has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2023.
Valerian Kindergarten
Lead Teacher
Michaella Melius
Miss Michaella has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2019.
Valerian Kindergarten
Assistant Teacher
Holly Fawcett
Miss Holly grew up in Hornell, New York; a small rural railroad town surrounded by trees and hills. Childhood memories include long hours outside exploring with the neighborhood children, climbing her mother’s crab apple tree, bicycling, snow skiing with her family and friends, bringing home and caring for stray cats and dogs, and riding horses at a nearby farm. She graduated from The Rochester Institute of Technology in New York with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in photojournalism along with a concentration in childhood psychology. Miss Holly was introduced to Waldorf Education while on a family camping trip in Santa Cruz, California. Inspired by this philosophy she began reading about Rudolf Steiner and was drawn to his ideals and his unique, holistic approach to education. She has attended courses and workshops at Rudolf Steiner College and has a true love and passion for the young child. She has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2016.
Dandelion Kindergarten
Lead Teacher
Chelsea Bratton
Miss Chelsea went to Texas State University and graduated with a bachelors of arts degree before returning a few years later to get her teaching certification in 2016. She most recently received her certification in Montessori Education specializing in lower elementary education from the North American Montessori Center. However, after diving deep into anthroposophy while starting a biodynamic native fruit tree orchard, she decided to continue her passion for Steiner's works by becoming a Waldorf teacher. Chelsea has taught at a public school, a forest school, a Montessori school before finally landing here at Nevada Sage Waldorf School teaching early childhood students. Outside of the classroom Chelsea can be found spending time with her family, attempting to reach 1000 Hours outdoors, and making her own cheese. Chelsea has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2023
Dandelion Kindergarten
Assistant Teacher
Bella Brownwood
Miss Bella has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Yarrow Preschool
Lead Teacher
Sadie Navo
Miss Sadie received her Waldorf early childhood training from Gradalias UWE program and has an associate's degree in early childhood education, social & behavioral science, and natural science from the Sierra College in Grass Valley. Ms. Sadie has had many various teaching positions and experiences over the past 12 years. When Ms. Sadie is not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family and animals, practicing yoga, dancing and creating art. Sadie has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Yarrow Preschool
Assistant Teacher
Cheyenne Osborne
Miss Cheyenne has an early childhood education background from American River College in Sacramento, CA as well as a background in child psychology from Lake Tahoe Community College in S. Lake Tahoe, CA. When Cheyenne is not in the classroom, she enjoys hiking with her 5 year old son and 11 year old daughter around Truckee and North Reno, as well as spending time with her dog and cats at home. Cheyenne has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2022.
Extended Care Teacher
Tailor Pollak
Miss Tailor holds a Bachelors in Fine Art and a minor in Humanities from Sierra Nevada College in North Lake Tahoe. Her passion for travel, community, the outdoors and the arts has taken her around the world to study. Tailor is a certified yoga and aerial fabric instructor. She loves sharing circus fun with everyone! For the past 10 years she has been a youth instructor and private art teacher in Tahoe. She has found a home at NSWS and loves teaching children and being a mentor in such an incredible school. Tailor has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Extended Care Teacher
Tabi Arnett
Miss Tabi has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Teacher Mentor
Amy Kopald
my holds a Bachelor of Fines Arts degree from University of Connecticut and in 1994 completed her Waldorf teaching certification from the Center of Educational Renewal in Santa Rosa, CA. She also holds a certificate in Spatial Dynamics. Amy began her teaching career in her home with a small playgroup, expanding to Kindergarten assistant and then Lead Kindergarten teacher at the Summerfield Waldorf School. Over her tenure at both Santa Cruz and Nevada Sage Waldorf Schools, Amy has taught Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-5. Amy loves silk marionette puppetry; performing for Artown each year. An avid hiker, she also enjoys traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren when she is not mentoring and supporting teachers at our school. Amy has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2015.
Grades Faculty
Class Teacher
Amy Barber
The deep meaning and purpose of Waldorf education is what drew Dr. Barber to Nevada Sage Waldorf School. Amy’s academic studies spanned twelve years, which included graduate work, postdoctoral research, and teaching. She received a Bachelor of Science in Zoology & Botany & Plant Pathology from Michigan State University (1997), and a Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology from the University of Nevada (2005). As a child, Dr. Barber found her love of nature exploring the fields and natural areas around her home in Michigan; as an adult, she has a deep fondness for the natural beauty of the Great Basin. She enjoys hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with her dogs, knitting, and handwork. Dr. Barber has been an Assistant and Lead Kindergarten teacher at Nevada Sage Waldorf School and was instrumental in starting our grade school. She regularly attends courses and workshops at Rudolf Steiner College and received her Waldorf Teacher Certification in 2017. Dr. Barber has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2011.
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Class Teacher
Elli Hierman
Ms. Hierman received a Multi-Subject Credential and Master of Arts in Teaching degree in 1986. She taught 2nd and 3rd grades for seven years in a Chicago suburb before moving to Nevada City, California, where she taught a 3rd/4th-grade class in a small private school. Soon after receiving her California teaching credential, she joined her children at the local public Waldorf school, where she assisted the lead teachers in grades 1-3, taught reading to 2nd-4th graders and math to 6th graders. She happily worked there for eleven years. Ms. Hierman especially enjoys writing and directing children's plays. In addition to teaching, she is dedicated to her meditation practice and cooking healthy food. She loves having precious time with family and friends. Ms. Hierman has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2018
Class Teacher
Steve Cook
Mr. Steven Cook has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and a Bachelors in Elementary Education. He has worked as a teacher for children of various ages and grades over the past 23 years. His experience includes both mainstream public and private schools. While teaching in New Zealand with children who are mentally disabled, he earned an anthroposophical certification for human development. In his free time, Mr. Cook enjoys posting videos on youtube, hiking in nature, fishing, and watching sports. Mr. Cook has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Class Teacher
Anthea Campbell
Mrs. Campbell has spent much of her life pursuing the question of how children should be educated. The first seeds of this began when her own mother was briefly involved in the early beginnings of creating a Waldorf school in Chico, California. Mrs. Campbell graduated from Wellesley College with a B.A. in Biological Sciences (with Honors) and Spanish in 2007 and received her M.Ed. in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning from UNR in 2012. Mrs. Campbell taught middle school science for 5 years, continuing to hold her deep belief in experiential inquiry, in the integration of academic subjects, and in bringing music, art and movement to her students’ learning. When she had her own children, she took a break from the middle school classroom and focused on early childhood curriculum from her own home. In that time, she had a chance to nurture her creative passions, including playing the cello, learning new instruments, singing, drawing, painting, photography, and crochet. When she began looking into schooling options for her own children, she found Nevada Sage Waldorf School. As she researched the curriculum and the philosophy behind the beautiful and rigorous teaching methods, she realized that here, at last, was the answer to how children should be educated.
Handworking Teacher
Hannah Waldman
Hannah Waldman graduated from Truckee Meadow Community college with an Associate’s of Art and Associate’s of Science in 2019. She has been practicing handwork for 15 years. Ms. Waldman has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2023.
Math Teacher
Katy Chandler
Katy Chandler is NSWS’s upper grades math teacher. Katy has enjoyed teaching algebra in all kinds of settings, including in a conventional inner city and charter montessori schools She has taught math, gardening, permaculture, and natural building to children and adults for many years. She runs a neighborhood nonprofit in Reno (Be the Change Project) and runs a permaculture urban homestead and demonstration site. Katy joined Nevada Sage Waldorf School in 2024.
Strings Teacher
Catherine Matovich
Ms. Matovich is a classical violist and a country roots fiddler. She plays with the Reno Philharmonic, the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the California Symphony. She is also the fiddler and band leader for the popular Bay Area Cajun-Zydeco dance band, CZ & the Bon Vivants, violist with Red Tango and fiddler and vocalist with the Sierra Sweethearts. Ms. Matovich toured the world with Neil Diamond and has played in back up bands for many of today’s current pop artists. She has taught string workshops in Berkeley, Irvine, Albuquerque, New Delhi and currently runs a violin/viola/fiddle studio in Reno. She loves teaching and watching her students develop their own way to speak through music. Catherine holds a BA in English from Oberlin College and a MA in Old English Literature from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. Ms. Matovich has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2014.
Strings Teacher
Hyeyoung Choi
Hyeyoung Choi has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.
Choir Teacher
Jo Neish
Mrs. Neish is a professional musician with extensive experience, including leading singing classes in elementary schools, accompanying choirs, directing children’s choirs and youth bands, and teaching piano, voice, and guitar privately. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Vocal Performance from San Jose State University and has a diverse musical background that spans classical piano and organ, as well as country, pop, and rock genres. Passionate about teaching children, she brings a wealth of musical stories from her experiences, which include singing on cruise ships, performing in bands, leading worship teams, and singing in chamber choirs. Since moving to Sparks, NV, from Napa, CA, in 2018, Mrs. Neish has taken on the role of Musical Director for various productions in Truckee, CA, and Reno. In addition to her work as a musical director and teacher at Nevada Sage Waldorf, she serves as the Director of Music and Worship at Sparks United Methodist Church, where she also fulfills the roles of Communications Specialist, Media Director, and online worship producer. Mrs. Neish has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2018.
Movement and Games Teacher
Monica Salcedo
Monica holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology with minors in Spanish and Human Development from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her experience includes working as a substitute teacher in the Washoe County and Berkeley Unified School Districts, and serving as an assistant at Heart to Hand (a.k.a Nevada Sage Waldorf School). She recently completed 30 hours of renewal coursework in Waldorf Teacher Education from the Center for Anthroposophy. Additionally, she taught games and movement at the school for a year in 2021 emphasizing holistic development through physical activity and play. Although Ms. Salcedo has been with our school for many years, she officially came back to teach Movement and Games in 2024.
Woodworking Teacher
Bob Boardman
Bob Boardman has been with Nevada Sage Waldorf School since 2024.