Photo courtesy of Arizona Technology Council. Photographer: Mark Goldstein
“I'm truly and honestly passionate about science and STEM. It's something I actually love.” For Amber Struthers, that passion goes far beyond the classroom. “Even in my free time I'm listening to Science Friday, listening to lectures, and going to museums regularly.”
Struthers, the Arizona Technology Council’s 2025 STEM Teacher of the Year, comes from “a long line of teachers — sixth generation teacher,” even though she admits, “I swore I wasn't going to be a teacher, but this is my 21st year.” Now in her eighth year teaching dual enrollment in the Tempe Union High School District, she splits her day between Corona del Sol High School and Tempe High School, where she is the only teacher in the district offering dual enrollment in automation.
Her journey into education was driven by a desire to share her love of science.
“When I was going to college, I started as a science major and switched to education. I wanted to spearhead that love of science, so people are fully informed, especially since we are surrounded by science politically and in policy.”
That mission is now taking shape through a new automation and robotics program at Tempe High School.
“We just started our automation and robotics program — this is our first year of it, and that’s currently my passion,” she said. “Automation is becoming part of the job no matter the career at this point, and we’re gearing students toward those opportunities.”
Industry partnerships play a key role.
“We have a growing partnership with Honeywell,” Struthers said. “They have volunteers coming in to work with the students with robotics. They get to see what the opportunities are from professionals who take time out of their day to work with us.”
That relationship she’s grown with industry partners goes deep, and directly impacts students, she added.
“When students are 17, I’ve had authorization to say, ‘I can get you a job interview.’”
As a woman in STEM, Struthers knows the importance of representation. “People assumed I was male because I have a doctorate” she said. “Just showing that I’m passionate about it, even when it’s hard, and showing models and representation really matters.”
She is equally passionate about dual enrollment: “It’s a chance to try something in a dual enrollment setting so you get to see what this looks like professionally or academically,” she said. “Some students discover, ‘this is my jam,’ and some discover, ‘this is not my jam,’ — and that’s valuable before spending thousands of dollars” on a college degree.
Of her recognition, Struthers hopes students take one lesson to heart: “I put my name in the hat all the time and get turned down 90 percent of the time. You don’t know what’s going to be valuable someday.”
Amber Struthers teaches dual enrollment automation, robotics, and computer programming through Rio Salado College in the Tempe Union High School District.
Listen to Amber’s podcast with Arizona Technology Council