Superintendent

Daniel W. Smith, Ed.D.

As superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools, Dr. Daniel W. Smith brings more than 21 years of transformative leadership experience and a deep commitment to student success. He is known for fostering academic excellence, expanding access to opportunity, and cultivating inclusive, supportive school communities.

At the heart of Dr. Smith’s leadership is a student-centered philosophy. He believes every decision should begin and end with what is best for students. From academic pathways to mental health supports, he champions environments where all students feel valued and empowered to thrive.

Dr. Smith is an instructional leader and understands the importance of establishing a vision for high-quality teaching and learning. He has developed collaborative systems that provide embedded professional learning and utilize data to inform and refine instructional decision-making, thereby promoting relevance, student engagement and achievement. Through clarity of expectations, targeted support, and a commitment to continuous improvement, he is focused on creating conditions for effective instruction and achievement for each and every child.

Throughout his career, Dr. Smith has launched forward-thinking initiatives such as specialized academies, dual language immersion programs, innovative interdisciplinary coursework and expanded mental health services. His collaborative leadership has fostered strong community partnerships, uniting stakeholders around a shared vision for educational excellence.

As a lifelong advocate for Virginia’s public schools, Dr. Smith is committed to working alongside Stafford County’s students, families, staff, and community to build on the division’s strengths and pursue a bold, future-ready vision. He and his wife, Michelle, who have been married for more than 22 years, are excited to be a part of the Stafford County community. They have two children: Caden, a college sophomore, and Liliana, an incoming high school freshman.

Dr. Smith holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Virginia and is a respected voice in education across the state and beyond.

Contact Information

Superintendent's Entry Plan

In my first six months, it was a privilege to listen, learn, and lead alongside the Stafford County community. Through meaningful conversations, classroom visits, school events, and districtwide collaboration, we've deepened our shared commitment to inspire, empower, and elevate every student.

Read the Entry Plan

As we Elevate Stafford, our focus remains on aligning our work with the Strategic Plan, investing in people and partnerships, and ensuring every student is prepared for success after graduation.

Key Focus Areas (Initial Six Months)

Throughout the entry plan phase, our goals included:

Building strong and transparent relationships with the School Board, staff, students, and families;
Assessing progress toward Strategic Plan goals, post-secondary outcomes, academic performance, school climate, and staff support
Evaluating organizational effectiveness and efficiency, ensuring clarity, coherence, and competence across all departments
Verifying systems and structures are in place to support academic growth for every student;
Developing strong partnerships with advisory groups, PTOs, the Stafford Education Foundation, elected officials, educational associations, and community leaders.

Community Engagement

Throughout the plan, we hosted Community Connections events, visited schools, and collaborated with organizations across Stafford County. Your feedback has helped shape the themes and recommendations that will guide our continued work. Thank you for your voices and your commitment to our schools.

Entry Plan Outcomes: Final Report and Presentation

Post Entry Plan: Report and Goals

We invite you to review the Post-Entry Plan Report that emerged from the Entry Plan Outcomes.

Below are the key goals outlined in the Post-Entry Executive Summary, which will help guide our continued work across Stafford County Public Schools:

Meaningful Postsecondary Outcomes
- Launch Business & IT Specialty Center (2025) at Colonial Forge HS; plan new centers at High School 6 and North Stafford HS (2026)
- Expand access to academic and career planning, internships, and credentials
- Improve special education services with an emphasis on individualized instruction
- Enhance language support for English learners
High Academic Expectations
- Reinforce our Instructional Framework with clear tools, coaching, and expectations
- Expand Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to address academic, emotional, and behavioral needs
- Align instructional materials, professional development, and school budgets with strategic goals
Safe, Engaging, and Welcoming Schools
- Implement four-tier transportation system
- Launch Opt-In model for bus riders
- Develop new academic calendar with more time for learning and professional growth
- Plan successful opening and transitions of three new schools in 2026
- Improve communication channels and launch customer service standards
Invest in Staff
- Launch Principal Leadership Team, Teacher Council, and Strategic Plan Steering Committee
- Review compensation and workload; explore innovative strategies like Artificial Intelligence for efficiency
- Redesign onboarding and recruitment for hard-to-fill positions
- Expand recognition, wellness, and collaboration opportunities
Operational Efficiency and Funding
- Conduct audits of staffing, scheduling, and resource use
- Enhance School Board communication
- Launch legislative strategy for increased state funding and COCA adjustment
- Create tools and partnerships to help the public better understand school finance

Next Steps: Elevate Stafford

With our listening and learning phase complete, we now turn our attention to elevating Stafford through:

Implementing targeted action steps identified in the Entry Plan Report;
Strengthening division-wide communication and collaboration;
Ensuring alignment between our daily work and our student-centered vision;
Advancing the goals of the Strategic Plan with renewed focus and purpose.

Thank you for your partnership as we continue to Elevate Stafford—together.

Explore Our Strategic Plan

The Post Entry Plan aligns closely with Stafford County Public Schools' Strategic Plan, a roadmap that ensures every decision supports our mission to inspire, empower, and excel.

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