About Daniel Whitmire

I believe that schools must reflect the values of the communities they serve, and that parents have both the right and the responsibility to play a central role in their child’s education. 

Priorities

•  Be a voice for parents
•  School safety
•  Support teachers
•  Quality education for all

I am a design principal with 15 years of experience designing learning environments for public schools. My focus has been on higher education and K-12 facilities. I work with executive leadership, administrators, and educators on nearly every project. I am a passionate designer who understands that my designs can have a positive impact on the community.  I have handled budgets on projects that exceed 100s of millions of dollars, and I will bring that stewardship of fiscal responsibility to the board if elected.

Degree and awards:

Bachelor of Architecture, cum laude, 2005-2010, Virginia Tech

Moseley: Senior Associate (2019), Design Principal (2025)

Virginia Society of the AIA Emerging Leaders in Architecture (2015)

Building Design & Construction’s 40 Under 40 (2021)

I grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, where my mom taught in the public school system and my sister still teaches today. I’m a proud product of public education myself.  I moved to Virginia in 2005 and have called it home for the past 20 years. My wife, Kellsye, and I met at Virginia Tech. She’s a Churchville native and a graduate of Buffalo Gap High School. We now have three wonderful children — two of whom attend Riverheads Elementary.

In 2018, we moved to Spring Lakes to raise our family closer to loved ones. We attend Bridge Christian Church in Fishersville, where we've been active for the past 18 months and have found a true sense of community.

Family, faith, and public service are at the core of everything I do.

“A Voice for Parents”

Let parents be parents and teachers be teachers.

I will do what is right for our children and for our teachers. As a parent with two sons in the Augusta County School System, I have a vested interest in their education. I feel compelled to serve on the Board as a working dad because I genuinely care about their upbringing, education, and quality of life; the early years have a profound impact on their futures. My approach to leadership on the board will be a balance of my professionalism, paired with the ‘common sense’ thinking of a father. 

I will listen to you, the voters, with an open mind. I yearn to be a bridge between our schools and our community. I will be transparent with my thoughts and decision-making, and readily available to discuss issues with any concerned community members in our district.

I will always put you, the parent, first and promise to be your voice on the School Board, not a part of the establishment. 

My Views

Teachers lay the foundations for our lives, and should be given the respect, support, and autonomy needed to do their jobs successfully. I am a public school advocate. Quality education is a right for all of us, and I will do everything I can to ensure the School Board and school system act with our children’s best interests in mind. I aim to leave politics and social issues out of our schools and focus on the subjects that our educators are prepared to teach our kids.

School Safety

As a board member, I will do everything in my power to advocate for the safety of our children in our schools. I was in Randolph Hall taking a structures class on April 16, 2007. The unimaginable events in Norris Hall next door spared me, but had a drastic and lasting impact on me, Kellsye, the Hokie community, and our entire country. This day greatly impacted how I felt in the classroom and ultimately how I design learning environments with safety and well-being in mind.

I will always be available and accountable to you, the voter.  My full contact info is:

Daniel Whitmire

260 Heather Lane

Staunton, VA  24401

(540) 292-8682

danielwhitmireforschoolboard@gmail.com