The Danville Independent School District congratulates Amber Driver, who will be the new director of special education. Amy Robbins currently holds the position and will retire at the end of the school year. Driver will step into the role effective July 1, 2026.

"Amy has been an exceptional leader and mentor, not just this year, but over her time as the [director of special education]," Driver said. "She has provided me opportunities to take on independent responsibilities while also ensuring I am building my skill set and confidence in this role. I am grateful for her guidance, support, and the trust she has placed in me. Through her mentorship, I have grown in my ability to make decisions, problem-solve effectively, and better support both staff and students."  

Currently, Driver is the assistant director of special education. This is her 16th year working in the district.

"As the assistant [special education] director, I worked to secure the SPARK grant, which will build post-secondary skills for our middle and high school students," Driver said. "I also created a Google Site that has been a resource for our special education teachers. In addition, I have collaborated with the schools to ensure we are meeting the diverse needs of students, whether through developing appropriate assessments for students or providing other targeted support. Currently, I am working on compiling a comprehensive list of community resources for our families with students who have special needs."  

She said her experience as the assistant director has taught her about the importance of "being present," supporting staff, problem solving, and being solutions-focused and flexible.

Driver started in the Danville Schools as a speech-language pathologist for the preschool program and Danville High School in 2010. In her time working for the Danville Schools, she has covered speech therapy services at each school for various reasons. She was an ARC facilitator during the 2024-2025 school year.

Prior to working for Danville Schools, she worked as a speech language pathologist assistant for Grayson Speech Therapy, which was contracted to provide speech therapy services in the Lewis County school district.

She also has experience working with the Kentucky Early Intervention Program with children from birth to age 3, as well as with adults in skilled nursing facilities.  

"What keeps me invested in Danville Schools is the strong sense of community," she said. "While it is a smaller district, it is also very diverse, which creates meaningful opportunities to support and learn from one another. There is a genuine feeling that everyone knows and cares about each other, and it truly feels like home. I also value the level of support provided to both staff and students, which allows everyone to grow and be successful."

Driver lives in Danville with her husband, Randy, and two stepsons, Brock and Seneca.

"We stay busy supporting them at the football field," she said.

She and her husband enjoy camping and are trying to visit every state park in Kentucky.

Driver grew up on a small farm in Lewis County, earned her bachelors and masters degrees in science in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Kentucky, and obtained her director of special education certification from Campbellsville University.