Daniel A. Stahler is a candidate for Chesapeake School Board Special. This is a non-partisan race. His name will appear on the November 4, 2025 General Election ballot. Stahler is running against Amanda Quillin.
The first day to vote early at your local voter registration office or satellite voting location for the Nov. 4 General Election is Sept. 19. Find your local office at this link. On Election Day, polls are open in Virginia from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Click here to see who is on your ballot.
10 On Your Side reached out to all of the candidates running in this race, with a request for a bio and a list of questions to answer. The bio is unedited; this is what the candidate submitted. If you do not see the candidate listed with a profile, we did not receive one.
Name: Daniel Stahler
Age: 55
Website: https://danielstahler.com/
Party: N/A
Biography
My name is Daniel Stahler, and I have proudly called Chesapeake home for nearly 30 years. Service has always been at the heart of my life. I am a U.S. Navy veteran and retired Sergeant from the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, where I served for 25 years. Twelve of those years were spent in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, working closely with our schools and families alike. After retiring from the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office, I served as a Court District Safety Officer at the Norfolk and Newport News Federal Courthouses. I currently work as a Security Specialist with Plasser American Corporation in Chesapeake, VA.
I earned my BA in Criminal Justice and a MA in Executive Leadership, and I have trained others as a DCJS General and Weapons Instructor. I also serve on the board of the Chesapeake Crime Line. Through my children, I have been actively involved in our schools, volunteering with the orchestra, drama club, and football team.
Most importantly, I am a proud father of two. My daughter graduated from Chesapeake Public Schools and Old Dominion University and is now an English teacher in Virginia Beach. My son is a rising junior in Chesapeake, active in football and ROTC. Education also runs deep in my family, as my brothers, sister, and their spouses are all educators. From them, I’ve seen firsthand both the promise and the pressures teachers face every day.
I am running for School Board because I believe in servant leadership, putting students, teachers, staff, parents and family values above politics or personal gain. My priorities are safe schools, ending bullying, protecting fairness in girls’ sports, and keeping classrooms political-free. I support teachers and staff in maintaining discipline, include them in decisions that affect them, advocate for competitive pay, and give parents a clear voice and full transparency while ensuring students learn how to think critically, not what to think. I also believe in expanding the Chesapeake Career Center to give students greater opportunities in trade skills and career pathways beyond the traditional college route, ensuring every child is prepared for success in life.
I am currently serving by appointment on the Chesapeake School Board and now seeking election to continue that service. For me, this is not about a title, it’s about service. I want to make sure every child in Chesapeake has a safe, supportive environment where they can grow, learn, and thrive.
If you are elected, what will be your top priority in office?
My top priority on the School Board is school safety, drawing on my 25 years in public safety to ensure every student, teacher, and staff member can learn and work in a secure, respectful, and supportive environment. Families can have confidence that schools will be safe places where their children are protected from bullying, and unsafe conditions. I will avoid complacency by conducting regular security assessments, advocating for strong security measures, clear disciplinary protocols, and providing mental health and family support for students and staff. In addition, I will support teachers, protect fairness in athletics, keep classrooms political-free, give parents a voice, and promote fiscal responsibility. This includes avoiding additional portable classrooms and collaborating with city and state officials to invest in long-term infrastructure improvements.
Do you believe partisan politics have a place in schools?
Politics has no place in our schools. Schools should be a safe space for learning, where students are taught how to think critically, not what to think. Decisions in the classroom should focus on education, not political agendas. My goal is to ensure that parents, teachers, and staff can trust that the school environment is free from outside political influence and is centered on the needs and success of the students, not political affiliations.
What say should parents have in the curriculum taught to their child?
Parents must have the ultimate authority over what their children are taught. Schools exist to educate, while families are responsible for raising their children. Schools should fully partner with parents, provide complete transparency of all curriculum, and ensure parents have a voice in every decision that affects their child’s education. Classrooms should focus on teaching students to think critically, gain practical knowledge and skills, and prepare for life, without advancing political agendas or undermining family values.
How do you work with others you don’t agree with?
I believe in working with others respectfully, even when we don’t agree. Differences of opinion are natural, but our focus must always be on serving students, families, and the community. Families are responsible for raising their children, and schools exist to educate them: teaching knowledge and skills. Schools should help students think critically and learn how to choose and grow into their own values, not force values on them at such a vulnerable age. I listen carefully, seek common ground, and rely on facts and shared goals to guide decisions. While I will always stand firm on core principles such as school safety, protecting family values, and keeping politics out of classrooms, I am willing to collaborate with others to find practical solutions that benefit students and staff.