"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." – Confucius

Higher Standards

Our experienced, trained and nurturing staff exceeds Colorado's preschool standards. Our staff-to-child ratio surpasses the Colorado minimum standards.

Through careful observation and interactions, our teachers cultivate and guide each child's cognitive, emotional, social, moral and physical growth. We strive to provide a healthy, nurturing, peaceful and respectful environment that guides our children each day.

Wendy Beatty — Educational Director, Group Leader
Hi! I’m Wendy Beatty and I have been teaching in the Early Childhood Education field for over thirty years. Four of these years have been here at OTR!

Before coming to OTR, I taught in a private Waldorf Kindergarten in Boulder for a year. I then went on to spend a summer working for Wild Bear here in Nederland leading the five and six year old 'Nederbugs'.

I have a B.A. in Community Recreation, as well as being Director-certified for large center preschools through the state of Colorado. I have three grown daughters and am a proud grandma of five grandchildren.

At home my family includes 'McGuiness' an Old English Sheepdog, 'Trooper' the Basset Hound, 'Beau' a Lab and 'Winston' the fat Persian Cat. We happily reside in beautiful Gilpin County.

I love teaching and working here at OTR, with our great mountain kids and their families.

Rachel Schaub — Administrative Director, Group Leader
Hello! My name is Rachel Schaub and I am very happy to be a teacher at Over the Rainbow! I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. I attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia where I received my BA in Vocal Music. After my undergraduate work, my husband and I lived in a few different places: Grand Lake, CO, Vermont, Walden, CO, and finally here to Nederland. We have lived here since 2004 and bought a home in 2007. We enjoy being a part of this special mountain community. In 2006, I graduated from the University of Colorado-Denver with an MA in Educational Psychology and an Early Childhood Education teaching license.

I believe that children are capable of directing their own learning and that they should have a space in which to learn that is safe, loving, and lets them express themselves. I believe that family and community play an integral role in the education of our children. I believe in the power of nature and the experience it gives all of us. That’s part of the reason we choose to live in this wonderful place. My husband and I enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, and seeing live music together. We spend a lot of time with our five pets and also enjoying the company of good friends.

I am looking forward to a fun and challenging year at Over the Rainbow and also to getting to know all of the families that attend this special school. Thanks!

Lacy Dunlavy — Group Leader
Hi! My name is Lacy Dunlavy and I am new to the Over the Rainbow community. I am a born and bred Buckeye from Ohio; my husband and I decided to make the big move to Colorado in 2009 and found home in Nederland.

Before OTR, I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University in Integrated Language Arts Education—exploration through reading and writing is a very important part of my life and something I love to share with children of any age. As I begin my own teaching career, I feel very lucky to have found a school that reflects my own teaching ideals and values—one that sees the importance of creativity, nature, and above all, a sense of community in a learning environment. As for the future, I plan to pursue a Master’s Degree in Information and Library Science, specializing in School Library Media.

Outside of preschool, you can find me enjoying anything and everything the Rocky Mountains have to offer! My husband and I love camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, whatever a day in the mountains may bring. We also have a “child” of our own—one of the furry, four-legged kind—named Scout, who is a Chocolate Labrador mix.

I am very excited to be a part of the Over the Rainbow staff and look forward to all of the daily adventures that await us in our learning!

Becky Pilarcik — Teacher's Aide
Hello, everyone! My name is Becky Pilarcik and I have been teaching and caring for children for over 10 years now.

I was a teacher here at OTR years ago when my son was young and left to have my daughter. I started up Sweet Bee's Family Childcare home daycare to be able to spend time with my daughter while she was young and still do what I love! In addition, I have taught at a Montessori preschool and have many years experience as a nanny to many families in town.

I live outside of Rollinsville with my husband Nate, son Dakota (9) and daughter Emma (3). Our family also includes 3 dogs and a lizard; Venus, Nita, and our newest edition Little Buddy.

I am so happy to have the opportunity to come back and teach here at Over the Rainbow and to spend time with all the great kids here.