Hamilton School Board Members

Shaquila Mathews (Pastor Shaq) was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio, attended Hamilton City Schools, and went on to attend Crossroads Bible College and recently graduated from Miami University with a degree in criminal justice. 

Shaquila is heavily involved in the community. She is indeed a servant leader serving on several boards. She is also a member of both the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. In 2018, Shaquila was the recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award, presented each year by the Hamilton Chamber, for her hard work and dedication to the city. 

Shaquila Mathews is the Founder and CEO of a non-profit called H.Y.P.E. (Hamilton Young People Empowered). H.Y.P.E., founded 10 years ago, encompasses 5 unique programs aimed at empowering youth in Hamilton. These programs include HYPE Level Up Summer Mentoring Youth Program, Books & Barbershop, HYPE Open Gym Game Night, H.Y.P.E. Music, and HYPE BOXING.

Pastor Shaq is the mother of two amazing boys who both graduated from 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.

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

Originally from Gallipolis, Ohio, Dr. Ashley Hopkins is a lifelong educator and proud first-generation college graduate. With over 20 years of experience in public education and nonprofit leadership, she now directs Miami University’s TRIO Upward Bound college preparatory program at Hamilton High School and is an instructor of Appalachian studies. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University and obtained both her master’s and doctoral degrees in education from Ohio University. 

Since choosing Hamilton as her forever home in 2017, Dr. Hopkins has been active in the community, serving on the board of the Hamilton Central YMCA, graduating from Leadership Hamilton 33, volunteering with 17 Strong, and holding membership in the Lindenwald Kiwanis Club of Hamilton/ Fairfield. Beyond Hamilton, Dr. Hopkins serves on the board of the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition in Cincinnati, and is a member of the Appalachian Studies Association and the Educational Opportunity Association.

Dr. Hopkins and her husband reside in Hamilton with their three dogs, Rousey, Frank, & Ro-Jo. They have two grown children, educated within the district, and two beautiful grandchildren, all living in Hamilton.

Carrie Mancuso is a lifelong resident of Hamilton and a graduate of Hamilton City Schools, where she was an active participant in the honors program and the Fine Arts department, and served as president of the National Honor Society. After high school, Carrie earned her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Marketing from Miami University.

Carrie started her career in business-to-business advertising in Cincinnati, but changed course to pursue meaningful non-profit work in her own community, which brought her to the Lane Libraries in 2002. Carrie has been the Public Relations Manager there for 23 years. Working in this role has given her countless opportunities to connect with and serve the Hamilton community through library work and participation on committees and boards, including the Hamilton City Schools community advisory committee, the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Appearance committee, the Central YMCA advisory board, the Parks Commission, and the Vision Commission. Most notably, Carrie is a founding member and the secretary of the Hamilton Parks Conservancy's board.

Carrie's connections to the Hamilton City Schools are many. In her professional capacity, Carrie has partnered with several individual schools to bring in library programs, such as author visits and library talks, and has judged citywide science fair projects. She served for several years on the Bridgeport Elementary School PTO board and volunteered as a room parent in her daughter's classroom during her elementary school years.

Carrie and her daughter Sophie, a student at Hamilton High, enjoy the daily antics of their three rescue dogs, Wilbur, Winston, and Skye.