About us | over the rainbow kids

Since 1990, Over the Rainbow has been caring for and educating children, infants to 12 years old, in Greater New Haven, Hamden, and Cheshire.

Our Goal
Encourage children to become life-long learners.

We Believe
A healthy and safe child learns best.

We Provide
A creative, stimulating, nurturing, and clean setting for your child Our dedicated

Teachers
CPR, First Aid, and Medication Administration certified

We maintain a system of 12 closed-circuit cameras to keep track of classrooms, the playground, and driveways. A state-of-the-art biometric security system enables us to control access to the facility. All parents and staff are required to enter a code to gain entry.

Our Core Values

Words and actions that we live and breathe:

FAMILY

We should treat everyone like family! We won’t always agree but we all get along.

EXCELLENCE

We strive for excellence in all that we do, throughout the day, at OTR. Giving every child and parent the best daycare service every day!

FUN

We play and teach children for a living. Constant laughing and playing while providing children with the tools they will need for their futures!

KINDNESS

Treat everyone with respect and always use kind words

Our Mission Statement

Over the Rainbow Learning Center exists to provide a safe, developmentally appropriate environment for infants, toddlers, and preschool children. Our focus is to provide a stimulating early care and educational experience that promotes each child’s social/emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Our goal is to support children’s desire to be life-long learners.
About us | over the rainbow kids

Meet the Team

About us | over the rainbow kids

Jaime Tessman

Jaime has always known that she wanted to work with children. While working towards her high school and college diplomas, she worked at a daycare with special needs adults and worked with children with autism as a paraprofessional. She taught Kindergarten for six years and third grade for one year. She left that profession to raise her three children and pursue her dream of having her own school. Building Over the Rainbow into an accomplished learning institution is equal to the joy of raising her children.

About us | over the rainbow kids

Emalee Schilling

Emalee has been working with children of all ages for 15 years. She started out babysitting for family and friends until she stumbled upon a daycare center position and found her true passion. She was originally hired in 2016 as a Toddler teacher and moved into the Preschool room for about a year. Emalee was the Assistant Director for more than 2 years, and is now the Executive Director and loves what she does!

About us | over the rainbow kids

Jaime Tessman

Jaime has always known that she wanted to work with children. While working towards her high school and college diplomas, she worked at a daycare with special needs adults and worked with children with autism as a paraprofessional. She taught Kindergarten for six years and third grade for one year. She left that profession to raise her three children and pursue her dream of having her own school. Building Over the Rainbow into an accomplished learning institution is equal to the joy of raising her children.

Emalee Schilling

Emalee has been working with children of all ages for 15 years. She started out babysitting for family and friends until she stumbled upon a daycare center position and found her true passion. She was originally hired in 2016 as a Toddler teacher and moved into the Preschool room for about a year. Emalee was the Assistant Director for more than 2 years, and is now the Executive Director and loves what she does!

Carol Yale

Carol joined the OTR family in July of 2021 as our Program Coordinator and in September 2022 she was promoted to Regional Director. Prior to that, she worked at Stop & Shop Supermarkets for 25 years as a Cash Office Manager, Receiver/Billing clerk, and Payroll clerk. She retired in 2021 so her children could continue playing travel softball and baseball. Carol has a Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern Connecticut State University. She is happily married and has two children. She loves scrapbooking, making greeting cards, cooking, playing board games, traveling, and spending time with her family. Carol loves working with the children and staff at all of our locations.

Tammy Vertucci

Tammy is the mother of 3 wonderful adult children. She was a Pre-K teacher for 16 years, the last 4 of which were at Over the Rainbow. Tammy was promoted to Assistant Director in 2022. Tammy loves working with the families and children at the Cheshire center. She has a great rapport with the staff and families.
About us | over the rainbow kids

Tammy Vertucci

Tammy is the mother of 3 wonderful adult children. She was a Pre-K teacher for 16 years, the last 4 of which were at Over the Rainbow. Tammy was promoted to Assistant Director in 2022. Tammy loves working with the families and children at the Cheshire center. She has a great rapport with the staff and families.

Ebanie Hamm

Hi, my name is Miss Ebanie, nickname Ebb. I have two specialties: working in the medical field and working with children. I enjoy working with children and watching them grow into young adults. I will always be a kid at heart singing and dancing to Disney songs, coloring, and playing Barbies. I enjoy doing this with my granddaughter and the kids at the center. I am so excited to be a part of the Over the Rainbow Family as the director of Hamden 2.