Conroe ISD dedicated Ruben W. Hope, Jr. Elementary School at an Oct. 14 ceremony, according to a news release from CISD.

CISD board President Skeeter Hubert and Superintendent Curtis Null spoke about the significance of the new school during the ceremony before Ruben W. Hope III addressed the audience and shared stories about his father.

According to the news release, Ruben W. Hope Jr. grew up traveling between Houston and Conroe to work on his family farm. He attended The University of Texas at Austin and graduated from The University of Texas School of Law. During his career, Ruben tried over 200 cases to jury verdicts and handled appeals before the Texas Supreme Court. In 1996, he was elected to the CISD board of trustees.

During his time on the board, he held the position of trustee and vice president. In 1999, he served as state representative between 1999 and 2006. He served on various committees and organizations, including the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts, Montgomery County Fair Association, Conroe Area Youth Baseball League, Oak Ridge Little League, Montgomery County Community Foundation, Conroe High School Athletic Booster Club, Conroe Evening Lions Club and the Montgomery County Master Gardener Association. The dedication of CISD's newest elementary school included performances from Hope Elementary students.

Ruben W. Hope, Jr. Elementary School, located at 14755 Granger Pines Way, Conroe, opened Aug. 11 for the first day of the 2021-22 school year. The newest elementary school in the Caney Creek feeder zone was built due to the increasing student population in CISD and was paid for by the 2019 bond package, according to district officials. Hope Elementary School’s colors are red and silver, and its mascot is a husky dog. It serves kindergarten to fourth grade and has a pre-K program as well. Some of the newest features to the elementary school are sinks in classrooms, energy-efficient lighting, and enhanced safety and security. The 127,000-square-foot building can hold 1,000 students. www.hope.conroeisd.net