Hamilton School Board Members

Shaquila Mathews (Pastor Shaq) born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, attended Hamilton City Schools and went on to attend Crossroads Bible College. She is the Founder/Pastor of Truth & Life Community Church.

Shaquila is heavily involved in the community. She is indeed a servant leader serving on several boards including the Boys & Girls Club of Hamilton and The Open Door food pantry. She is also a member of both the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.

Shaquila Mathews is the Founder and CEO of a non-profit called H.Y.P.E. (Hamilton Young People Empowered). H.Y.P.E., which started 5 years ago, encompasses 5 unique programs aimed at empowering the youth in Hamilton. These programs include The Pastor Shaq Job/Mentoring Youth Program, Books & Barbershop, HYPE Open Gym game night, H.Y.P.E. Music, and HYPE BOXING.

Pastor Shaq is married to Brandon Mathews and the mother of two beautiful boys who both attend Hamilton City Schools.

Mr. Davidson is a 1979 graduate of Hamilton Taft High School and received his Bachelor’s degree in Business from Wittenberg University in 1982.  After receiving his Bachelor’s degree, he was accepted at the University of Toledo’s College of Law and graduated in 1986 with a JD (First Degree in Law).

From 1996 to the present, Mr. Davidson has been a PA partner at the “Davidson Law Offices Co.

Dave is active in many civic and professional organizations, including the Hamilton Rotary Club, Ohio State Bar Association, Butler County Bar Association, and was a member of the Hamilton City School District Board of Education from 2008 - 2013.

Dave and his wife Kim reside in Hamilton and have five adult children and eight grandchildren.

Dr. Joe Copas is a lifelong resident of Hamilton, Ohio.  He was educated in the Hamilton City Schools and graduated from Taft High School in 1977.

He holds three degrees: A Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Tennessee, a Master's Degree in Management from Webster University, and a Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. Copas is a retired Colonel from the United States Army.  He served on multiple deployments and was a Commander of the 373rd Medical Company, USAR.  At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the State Dental Officer for the Ohio Army National Guard.

He is a member of the American Dental Society, the Ohio Dental Society, and the Keely Dental Association.  Locally, Dr. Copas is a member of the AMVETS Post 1983 and a member of the Monkeys Mutual Aid Society of Hamilton.

Dr. Copas is the owner of Liberty West Dental, LLC in Hamilton.

He and his wife are members of Zion Lutheran Church where he is a member of the Usher Team and a member of the Zion men's group, Band of Brothers.

Dr. Copas and his wife of 40 years, Joni Lauer Copas, reside in Hamilton.  They have three grown children, all graduates of the HCSD and four grandchildren.

Originally from Lima, Ohio, Laurin began his teaching career in the Hamilton Schools in 1983. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education and Masters in Educational Leadership from Miami University. He also earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Dayton. Laurin’s educational career in Hamilton spanned over thirty years as a teacher, principal and district administrator over the Fine Arts program.

Laurin is active in the Hamilton community as he serves on the Butler Philharmonic Orchestra Board, Co-Chairs the Hamilton 4th of July Committee and is a member of the Hamilton Community Foundation Scholarship Committee. He is also an active member and Choir Director at Hamilton First Baptist Church.

Laurin’s wife, Lisa, is a retired Hamilton teacher. He has three sons, Andrew, Alex, and Alexander, who graduated with honors from Hamilton High School.

Margaret (Mag) Baker is a life long resident of Butler County. She was born and raised in Oxford Ohio and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Miami University. Mag spent most of her 30+ year career in the banking industry at First Financial Bank. Mag retired from her banking career as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending in October 2013 to accept the position of President and CEO of Butler County United Way.

Mag spent many years serving on non-profit boards such as the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton, and the Great Miami Valley YMCA. She is a Past President of the Hamilton Rotary Club, a past member of the Civil Service Commission for the City of Hamilton, Board Member of the Consortium for On-Going Reinvestment (CORE) in Hamilton, Board member of the Council on Aging Butler County Elderly Services Board, Graduate of Leadership Hamilton Class 3 and Graduate of Leadership 21 Class of 2014 through the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance. She was recognized by the West Chester Liberty Chamber of Commerce as a Woman of Excellence in 2015.

She and her husband Jim reside in Hamilton with their two Golden Retrievers, Abby and Gracie. They have two grown children (educated in the Hamilton City School District) and three grandchildren.