Life is often compared to running a marathon. The early excitement is sometimes replaced by unexpected bumps in the road that temporarily sidetrack a person. At other times, the joy of the moment promises a runner’s high. Ellie Vandiver, a biomedical teacher at University City High School and this year’s San Diego City Schools Teacher of the Year, would concur.

When she was 10 years old, Vandiver’s Navy pilot dad died in a car accident. As a twin and one of seven children, she was devastated by the loss. Her mother moved the family to San Diego and they eventually settled in U.C.

Before UCHS was built, Vandiver graduated from Clairemont High and went on to SDSU as a sociology major. After she married, she and her husband moved to Denver and then settled in Michigan, where they had three children: Clay, 29, Sam, 26, and Kate, 25.

When Kate was in kindergarten, Vandiver followed in the footsteps of her mom and sister and became a nurse. She loved being an ICU nurse. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and was certified in critical care.

As a nurse, she was got her introduction to teaching in a high school biomedical program. She had a knack for teaching and latched on to the teens (her own children were adolescents at the time and she knew how to deal with the age group). When the biomedical teacher took another position at the school, she asked Vandiver to apply for her position. With only a week to consider it, Vandiver took the leap — a good decision, but not without its challenges. 

When divorce put her at a crossroads — and because she missed her family in San Diego — she made another decision: “I wanted to come home.”

In 2006, she was back in University City with no job and without having sold her house in Michigan. She remembers sitting at La Jolla Shores one cold day, asking God: “What’s the plan?”

That same day, a position opened up at Crawford High — a school where 10-12 different languages are spoken. Vandiver had to give herself a pep talk. “You can do this. You can teach.” (Remembering this, Vandiver’s eyes light up as she talks about a group of her Crawford students that have just graduated from college. They still keep in touch with her.) She spent three happy years at the school.

Eventually, her sister pointed her to former UCHS principal Mike Price, who wanted a biomedical program at the school. Vandiver signed on for Project Lead The Way (PLTW), which enhances teaching science, math and engineering to high school students. She was the only nurse among the science teachers in a four-week training program in Baltimore in the summer of 2009. She and the other teachers went to school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with homework) to hone their skills in their respective disciplines. She has returned every summer since for two weeks of intense training.

“I wish you could have seen my juniors today isolating a protein from a jellyfish gene. Amazing stuff,” she said, her eyes again lighting up. “When they get to college, they will have already done these things.” Besides the thrill of seeing her students succeed, Vandiver mentors teachers in other schools. With her colleagues in the UCHS science department, they collaborate, offer ideas and help new teachers develop good habits. Vandiver has mentored three teachers in other schools, even switching classes with them at times.

“It is good support,” she said.

When asked about the fiscal nightmare in the schools going on in San Diego and the state, she has a quick reply: “When I’m here,” she said, pointing around her lab and classroom, “that’s all it’s about. I can’t solve the outside fiscal issues. I save my energy for this. It’s my hands-on approach for student learning, problem solving. In the real world, that’s the way it is … collaborating early on, communicating, being held accountable and building on what you have already learned.”

And just how does Vandiver unwind at the end of the day?

Yoga helps, but being close to her big family, she said, is most important.

“I really didn’t appreciate my mom enough — all she did with having to raise seven children by herself. She was amazing,” she said. “She passed away from heart issues when I was 37. I miss her.”

Vandiver reflected for a moment and then jumped right back to the present — and to her students.

“My seniors just finished clinical management at Scripps, the VA Hospital and even at a veterinarian clinic at Governor Animal Clinic. At the hospitals these kids saw a kidney transplant, a hip replacement and a mastectomy.”

One could say Vandiver is at a good place in her life — her marathon.

“I love my life. I feel so lucky. I have core things. I love my job. My mom instilled in us never to forget our brothers and sisters,” she said. “My own children hang out together, go hiking, stay close.”

As for the honor of being named Teacher of the Year?

“I was doing a DNA lab when the principal came in and told me a student wasn’t breathing well,” she recalled. “He asked me to help, as I sometimes do for the nurse. ‘Did you call 911? Is he blue?’ I asked. ‘Do we need a wheelchair?’ He led me into the large office where all these people were, and I kept thinking, ‘How will I get through the crowd to the student?’ Suddenly I heard ‘Surprise!’ and it hit me. My sister and Jeff had designed this event to tell me I had gotten Teacher of the Year. All my students were there, my own kids, my family. There was cake, flowers. I feel so grateful. I’ve only been at UCHS three years, three years at Crawford, six years in Michigan teaching. People don’t know me very well.”

It isn’t true that people don’t know Vandiver very well. Her passion is teaching — and that becomes known instantly to anyone who crosses her path.

Thursday, May 24

• Bela Vida Brasileira, Latin and Brazilian jazz, 5 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Tad Sisler, vocals, piano, keyboards, 7 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Mario Olivares, jazz trio, 7 p.m., La Valencia Hotel

• Mikan Zlalkovich Trio, jazz piano, 7 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Dave Millard Jazz Jam, Jazz with multi-instrumentalist Millard, 7:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Allegra, covers, 8 p.m., Beaumont’s

• Kenny Barron, Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, 8 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute

Friday, May 25

• Tomcat Courtney, blues legend, 6 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• James Speer, jazz piano, 7 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Janet Lee, piano recital, 6 p.m., CPMC Recital Hall, UCSD

• Gipsy Menco, Old-World flamenco and modern jazz with Spanish guitar, 7 p.m., La Valencia Hotel

• InAeona, atmospheric indie rock from Boston, plus Moosejaw, Downburst, Cash Crop, 7 p.m., Che Café

• Krishna Leela, music and stories from India, 7 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute

• Alison Adams Tucker Quartet, piano jazz, 8 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Tad Sisler, 8 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Fly Fridays, DJ night, 8 p.m., Barfly

• Scott Carter & The New Breed, rock, soul and R&B covers, 9 p.m., Beaumont’s

• Todo Mundo, rhythmic world music, 9 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Saturday, May 26

• Mike Myrdal, 10 a.m., Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

• Tomcat Courtney, 6 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Jonathan Karrant, standards from jazz to Sinatra, 7 p.m., La Valencia Hotel

• Tad Sisler, 8 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Superstar Saturdays, DJ night, 8 p.m., Barfly

• Lester Abrams, piano jazz, 8 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Lady Dottie & The Diamond, soul and R&B classics and originals, 9 p.m., Beaumont’s

• Peligroso Caramelo, Latin, Cumbia and Salsa, 9 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Sunday, May 27

• San Diego Harp Society Student Recital,

2:30 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute

• Sounds Like Four, jazz, 4 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• John Cain, piano jazz, 6 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Middle Earth, Belly Dance Ensemble, 8 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Monday, May 28

• San Diego Harp Society Student Recital, 2:30 p.m., The Neurosciences Institute

• Sounds Like Four, jazz, 4 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• John Cain, piano jazz, 6 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Middle Earth, Belly Dance Ensemble, 8 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Tuesday, May 29

• Greg Shibley, Latin and Brazilian jazz guitar, 5 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Lester Abrams, piano jazz, 6 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Susan McCrea & Soul Seduction, original soul, jazz and R&B, 7:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• UCSD Gospel Choir, 8 p.m., Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD

• Trio Kobiyashi, piano jazz, 8 p.m., CPMC Recital Hall, UCSD

Wednesday, May 30

• Louise Devenish, Australian percucssionist, 5 p.m., CPMC Concert Hall, UCSD

• Tomcat Courtney, 6:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• James Speer, jazz piano, 7 p.m., Eddie V’s

• James Romine, Latin American singer-songwriter, 7:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Thursday, May 31

• Bela Vida Brasileira, 5 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Tad Sisler, 7 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Mario Olivares, 7 p.m., La Valencia Hotel

• James Speer, 7 p.m., Eddie V’s

• Dave Millard Jazz Jam, 7:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Singers, a collection of student vocalists, 8 p.m., CPMC Concert Hall, UCSD

• Simeon Flick, acoustic covers, 9 p.m., Beaumont’s

Friday, June 1

• Tomcat Courtney, 6 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Gipsy Menco, 7 p.m., La Sala Lobby, La Valencia Hotel

• Throne, indie rock quartet, plus My Iron Lung, Being As An Ocean, Mr Fisher and the Hospitality, The Victor Ship, 7 p.m., Che Café

• Tad Sisler, 8 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Middle Earth, belly-dance ensemble, 8 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Fly Fridays, DJ night, 8 p.m., Barfly

• The Trunks Quartet, jazz, funk and blues from young group, 9 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Saturday, June 2

• Tomcat Courtney, 6 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Jonathan Karrant, 7 p.m., La Valencia Hotel

• Tad Sisler, 8 p.m., Manhattan of La Jolla

• Ben Howard, British singer-songwriter, 8 p.m., The Loft, UCSD

• Superstar Saturdays, 8 p.m., Barfly

• Bart Davenport, former Loved One in singer-songwriter mode, 9 p.m., Beaumont’s

• The Trunks Quartet, jazz, funk and blues, 9 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

Sunday, June 3

• Sounds Like Four, jazz, 4 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Good Amount, experimental ambient music, plus Dogbreth, Colony, Drainbow, Kids, 7:30 p.m., Che Café

Monday, June 4

• Carlos Velasco, Latin & Brazilian jazz guitar, 5 p.m., On the patio, Café-Bar Europa

• Jazz, music from UCSD students, 8 p.m., CPMC Concert Hall, UCSD

Tuesday, June 5

• Greg Shibley, Latin and Brazilian jazz guitar, 5 p.m., On the patio, Café-Bar Europa

• Susan McCrea & Soul Seduction, original jazz, 7:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• Chamber Orchetra, music from UCSD students, 8 p.m., CPMC Concert Hall, UCSD

Wednesday, June 6

• Tomcat Courtney, blues legend, 6:30 p.m., Café-Bar Europa

• James Romine, Latin American singer-songwriter, 7:30 p.m., On the patio, Café-Bar Europa

• Chamber Ensemble, music from UCSD students, 8 p.m., CPMC Concert Hall, UCSD

MUSIC VENUES:

• The Athenaeum: 1008 Wall St., (858) 454-5872, www.barflylajolla.com

• Beaumont’s: 5662 La Jolla Blvd., (858) 459-0474, www.beaumontseatery.com

• Bird Rock Coffee Roasters: 5627 La Jolla Blvd., (858) 551-1707, www.birdrockcoffeeroasters.com

• Café-Bar Europa: 873 Turquoise St., (858) 488-4200, www.theturquoise.com

• Che Café: 9500 Gilman Drive, UCSD, (858) 534-2311, thechecafe.blogspot.com

• Eddie V’s: 1270 Prospect St, (858) 459-5500, www.eddiv.com

• La Jolla Music Society (Sherwood Auditorium): 700 Prospect St., (858) 454-3541, www.ljms.org

• La Valencia Hotel: 1132 Prospect St., (858) 454-0771, www.lavalencia.com

• Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center: 4126 Executive Drive, (858) 457-3030, www.lfjcc.org

• The Loft: 9500 Gilman Drive, UCSD, (858) 246-0323, www.artpwr.com

• Manhattan of La Jolla: 7766 Fay Ave., (858) 459-0700, www.manhattanoflajolla.com

• The Neurosciences Institute: 10640 John Jay Hopkins, (858) 454-626-2000, www.nsi.edu

• St. James by-the-Sea Episcopal Church: 743 Prospect St., (646) 457-8707