Board Members
Joan Manning, President
Place 4 - Term began November 8, 2022 – Term expires November 2025
Joan Manning was elected to the Board in 1995 and is currently serving as the Board's president. After her father retired from the military and settled in Copperas Cove, she met and married her high school sweetheart, Jay. After attending college, they returned to Copperas Cove to be closer to her family.
Mrs. Manning and her husband currently own Manning Homes, a family building business in Copperas Cove. She stays busy being a mom and a grandmother to five, working in the building business, serving on several local boards, and being an active member of Eastside Baptist Church.
Timothy Traeger, Board Member
Place 2 - Term began December 10, 2024 – Term expires November 2027
Timothy Traeger was initially elected to the Board in November 2024. Mr. Traeger is the son of a soldier and first moved to the Fort Cavazos area as a kindergartener in 1996. After graduating from high school, Traeger joined the U.S. Army and served for five years, including deployments to Afghanistan.
After leaving the military, Mr. Traeger wanted to be available for his family with his wife working as a paramedic and fire fighter, so he decided to pursue a degree in teaching. He earned his associate, bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arizona, where he is currently pursuing his doctorate in education.
Mr. Traeger decided to leave leave education in 2024 to serve his community in the best way he could, wanting to help advocate for educators, school staff and students.
Traeger and his wife, Alicia, met while students at Audie Murphy Middle School. They now have three children who attend Copperas Cove schools and own Lil Blessings 4D/HD Ultrasound in Cove.
Sherry Hoffpauir, Board Member
Place 1 - Term began December 10, 2024 – Term expires November 2027
Sherry Hoffpauir has lived in Copperas Cove since 1972 and is a 1973 graduate of Copperas Cove High School.
She has worked with local business and other entities in marking, to include radio, television, print and ad agency advertising for more than 40 years and enjoys being connected with people in the Copperas Cove business community and beyond.
Hoffpauir was married to the late Joe Lombardi, the former Voice of the Bulldawgs, for more than 30 years until his passing in March 2023. For decades, she's frequented Bulldawg football games and can be found on the 50 yard line at home games.
Hoffpauir serves on the board of directors for the Advent Health Central Texas Foundation and United Way of the Greater Tri-County Area. She is also a member of the CenTex Exchange Club of Copperas Cove and the Copperas Cove Quarterback Club.
John Gallen, Vice President
Place 6 - Term began November 7, 2023 – Term expires November 7, 2026
John Gallen graduated from Marquette University in 1973 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Mr. Gallen retired in 1993 follow 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. Mr. Gallen taught ROTC at Norwich University before obtaining his Master’s degree to become a certified special education teacher. Mr. Gallen taught at CCHS for 20 years, retiring in 2013. Mr. Gallen served on Copperas Cove City Council from 2000-2007 and was elected to CCISD Board of Trustees in November 2020.
Mike Wilburn, Board Secretary
Place 3 - Term began November 8, 2022 – Term expires November 2025
Mike Wilburn was elected to the Board in 2007. After graduating from Southwest Texas State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, he began his teaching career with CCISD as an elementary physical education teacher. He then received his Master's Degree at Tarleton University and after seven years of teaching and coaching, became vice principal of J.L. Williams Junior High School. Later, he served as principal of Fairview Elementary School for three years before becoming an Education Instruction Specialist for the IBM Corporation in Atlanta, GA.
Mr. Wilburn returned to Copperas Cove in 1986 and became principal once again for Fairview Elementary. He then went on to serve as principal of J.L. Williams Elementary School and Copperas Cove High School. He finished his career by serving as Executive Director of Secondary Education and Technology until retiring from CCISD in July 2006.
Mr. Wilburn has served as a member of a number of community organizations to include; the Association of the United States Army, Copperas Cove Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, City Traffic Safety Commission, Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, Copperas Cove Quarterback Club and the Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful Commission. He currently is the chairman of deacons for First Baptist Church of Copperas Cove.
Heather Copeland, Board Member
Place 5 - Term began November 8, 2022– Term expires November 2026
Heather Copeland came to this area in 1974 and has primarily lived in Copperas Cove since then. Her son was born and raised in Copperas Cove, and graduated from Copperas Cove High School. Mrs. Copeland worked at Fort Hood for the majority of her career. She primarily worked in transporation, until she participated in an internship in the computer science program on post. Mrs. Copeland worked her way into being the network engineer for the testing association on West Fort Hood. She is now retired, and all of her siblings have moved to this area. Mrs. Copeland now has 11 grandchildren, great nieces and great nephews in the school district. One of her grandchildren graduated from Cove High school during the pandemic, and she was very impressed with the way the education program and the concern of the administrative staff, especially the counselors, was organized and implemented. Mrs. Copeland is very active in her church home and works with the youth in the congregation.
Jeff Gorres, Board Member
Place 7 - Term began November 7, 2023 – Term expires November 2026
Jeff Gorres retired from the U.S. Army after serving nearly 26 years. He has served in multiple combat tours, contingency and overseas tours, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Central America, and Europe. He is the recipient of the Order of Saint Michael as well as the Order of Saint Martin. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and professional certification in Aerospace Engineering, as well as a masters in Homeland Security with a concentration in disaster and emergency management. Mr. Gorres has served on the CCISD strategic planning committee as well as the facilities planning committee. A resident of Copperas Cove since 1995, his and his wife Teresa’s four children have graduated from or attend CCISD schools.
