The last two weeks have been very busy for the Rotary Club of Conroe. These are the weeks for distribution of the “I Like Me!” books to the first-grade students in the Conroe High School feeder zone.
This project has delivered personalized books to first-grade students since the 1999 -2000 School Year.
The program started with Rotary Club members who were in the CISD. They reported the issue of students were taught to read in the 1st grade and went home for the summer. When they came back for 2nd grade in the fall, many had to learn to read all over again. Many kids had no books to read and practice over the summer. The “I Like Me!” books provided to each first grader gives them their own book to take home for the summer. The books are personalized for each student with their name, two of their friends’ names, their school, their teacher, and their School Principal. In 2026, the Rotary Club distributed 1260 books to students in 11 elementary schools. As of 2026, 34,129 students have received books.
Near the end of the school year, Rotarians and school sponsors distribute the books in the 1st grade classrooms. The students’ excitement when they get THEIR book and see THEIR friends’ names in it is just fantastic! Many students tell us that their older brother or sister has a book like theirs. Last year we had two 1st grade teachers report that they still had their “I Like Me!” books! This year, one of the kids said their mother has hers and reads it to him!
For some students, it seems as though even though they are told they will get a book, they are still surprised to see a book with their name. It is as though they are being acknowledged and recognized for the first time. The book program is powerful because it focuses on each individual student as being important.
Great thanks to the leadership of the Conroe Independent School District, the Principals of the schools, and their administrative staff for allowing this program to continue. The project could not be done without the first-grade teachers who put together the list of students and their friends, so a huge thank you goes out to them!
Finally, a great big thank you to Rotarian Ed Kelly, who successfully led the effort for 2025 and 2026.
The School sponsors who made this happen this year are Edward Jones – Derrick McCarley, Gullo Automotive Group, Guaranty Bank, Woodforest National Bank & Wealth Management, Moody Bank, Blyel Engineering, Quest Engineering, Kraftsman Commercial Playgrounds and Waterparks, Jim and Sally Arnold, Dave and JoAnn Bartlow, The Buckalew Family, Lamar Casparis, Leland and Jeri Duskin, J.R. McDonald, Jim and Sylvia Wiggins, and the Rotary Club of Conroe.
If you would like to sponsor a school in the next school year, and be a part of the project, please contact the Rotary Club of Conroe.