Liberty Hill Middle School counselor Cynthia Bailey has been named the 2025 Rhosine Fleming Texas Middle School Counselor of the Year, an honor presented by the Texas School Counselor Association. The award is presented annually to one outstanding middle school counselor in Texas.
“Mrs. Bailey is the emotional heartbeat of our campus,” said Dr. Amber Loubiere, principal of Liberty Hill Middle School. “Students and staff rely on her calm, thoughtful guidance, and her leadership consistently strengthens how we support students academically, socially and emotionally. Her work helps remove barriers to learning so students can succeed in the classroom.”
Bailey is recognized for student-centered support that advances Liberty Hill’s academic mission while responding to students’ social and emotional needs. This year, when the campus unexpectedly lost the staff member responsible for building the master schedule mid-summer, Bailey stepped in and redesigned the schedule to better align with student needs and instructional priorities.
She has also expanded support for students through small groups focused on self-esteem and peer connection, helped create a quieter lunch option for students who need it, and connected families to community resources for food, clothing and shelter.
Bailey also serves as a mentor to new counselors and a leader among her peers. She organizes the campus Student Ambassador Club, serves on the district Crisis Response Team, and helped bring Texas A&M’s Youth Aware of Mental Health program to campus for the first time.
“Cynthia leads with steadiness, compassion and a clear focus on what students need to thrive,” said Sherce Hampton, Killeen ISD director of counseling for academic advising and planning. “This recognition reflects the way she elevates our counseling work every day building systems of support, strengthening partnerships and helping students feel seen, safe and ready to learn.”
The Rhosine Fleming Award was established in memory of Rhosine DuBose Fleming, a Richardson ISD counselor who died in 1971. Fleming helped organize the Texas School Counselor Association in 1966 and served as its secretary. The award is presented annually to outstanding school counselors at the elementary, middle and high school levels in honor of her dedication to the profession.
Bailey will be formally recognized at the Texas Counseling Association conference, scheduled for Feb. 1–3, 2026, in Fort Worth.