Cynthia Ann "Queenie" Tolleson was born in McKinney, Texas in 1956 to Dan and Mary Ann Tolleson. She moved to Prosper in 1963, graduated from Prosper High School in 1974, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 1978, and earned a Masters of Science degree from Texas A&M Commerce in 1987. While attending Texas A&M, she met John Cockrell, and they were married in 1978. Cynthia returned to Prosper in 1980 after teaching for two years in Hearne, Texas. As a classroom teacher in Prosper for twenty- five years, she taught kindergarten, third, and fourth grades. She served the last three years in PISD as an Assistant Principal at Judy Rucker Elementary and R. Steve Folsom Elementary Schools.

Both of Cynthia's parents attended Prosper schools: her mother Mary Ann graduated in 1947. Brothers Dan and Chris also graduated from Prosper High School. Cynthia's grandfather, Carl Stone, and Dan served on the Prosper ISD school board for many years. Sons Joshua, Jared, and Jacob attended Prosper schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade and graduated from Prosper High School in 2001, 2005, and 2011, respectively.

Cynthia A. Cockrell Elementary is the first school named for not only a Prosper ISD graduate but also a Prosper ISD educator. With deep ties to Prosper, Cynthia never lived anywhere but Texas and spent thirty-nine of her fifty-two years as a student or an educator in Prosper ISD.

A commitment to education, love for the Prosper ISD staff and students, and a great sense of humor inspired Cynthia, who passed in August 2008 of cancer. The legacy of Cynthia Cockrell’s commitment to teaching, learning, and service will continue to live in this school that bears her name.