Christina Emery joined Brooker Memorial as Executive Director in 2024, bringing over 20 years of expertise in community and non-profit leadership. With a background as Director of Economic Development for the City of Torrington, Director of Development for LARC, and Executive Director of Prime Time House, Christina is passionate about fostering children’s health, wellness, and success. She actively serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of the Torrington/Winsted Areas, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, and the Torrington Development Corporation. Christina holds a B.A. in Economics and Management from Simmons College and an M.A. in Public Policy from Trinity College. She and her husband, Jason, reside in Harwinton with their two children—a son serving in the U.S. Navy and a daughter attending Lewis S. Mills High School.

Kaitlyn Graboski, a UConn graduate with a Bachelor’s in Communication, joined Brooker Memorial in 2021. She has played key roles across our business operations, earning a promotion to Marketing and Program Coordinator in 2023 and stepping into the role of Operations Manager in 2024. Kaitlyn is passionate about working with children and thrives on new challenges. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys being with family, friends, and her puppy Sierra.

With 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Charlene Lee has been a valued member of Brooker Memorial since 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood from the University of Connecticut. Charlene’s career at Brooker has spanned roles from classroom teacher to administrator, where she enjoys working with a supportive team, connecting with families, and cherishing daily interactions with the children. Outside of work, Charlene loves camping, hiking, biking with her husband and two children, and spending time in her garden.

Nicole has been an early childhood educator for over 30 years and has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies. Nicole has worked at Brooker Memorial for over 9 years now and has loved every minute of it! Her roles have included classroom teacher, aide, and now Assistant Director. She feels that the teachers are supportive, the building and classrooms are gorgeous, and the parents are amazing! She loves to watch children grow to the point where they can be successful with a task that used to be a struggle! She loves to go to concerts and is a huge Star Wars fan!

Dr. Baker is a dual-trained board-certified pediatric dentist and dentist anesthesiologist who previously served as the Department Chair for Pediatric Dentistry at Yale University and Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker obtained her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania, her pediatric dentistry and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan, her dental anesthesiology degree from the University of California and most recently her MBA degree from Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Baker has also completed two years of training with children with special healthcare needs at Helen Hayes Hospital and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Her research focuses on the burden of dental disease and the cost for dental related fear and anxiety. We are excited to welcome Dr. Baker to our team in early 2025 as our newest Dental Director.

Over the past fifteen years Cara has worked the front desk for Dr. Ryan’s dental office in Winsted, and Dr. Kuhlberg’s orthodontic practice in Avon. She thinks our smiles are so important, and their health and wellness especially.She likes working with adults and children, and Brooker Dental brings all age groups into the mix. Cara has two wonderful children and a sweet grandson, three of the best siblings, and a tortoiseshell cat. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking, dining out and music. She loves spending time in Rhode Island or Cape Cod during the summer months.

Lynn Mellis Worthington is the Community Engagement Coordinator and she brings to her role a wealth of experience with writing, photography, and publicity. Lynn says she looks forward to enhancing communications about Brooker as well as guiding the Pathways for Success Program and Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP). She worked at South Kent School, an independent high school, in various capacities for 26 years, including 10 years as the Publications Director. She also worked part-time as a reporter for several different newspapers. Lynn has also volunteered at several non-profits and is currently on the board of the Merwinsville Hotel Restoration in Gaylordsville, which is an 181-year-old historical building that has been renovated for the past 53 years. She lives in Kent with her husband and they have two adult daughters.