Susan Laushman is the vocal music instructor at Pittsburg High School and is also Music Director and Choir Master for The Presbyterian Church of Pittsburg. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, and her Masters in piano performance and music education certification at Pittsburg State University.

Now in her nineteenth year of music education, Susan has taught at PSU, Carl Junction, and Pittsburg High School. She was awarded Music Educator of the Year by the Kansas Federation of Music Teachers Association in May 2007, and received the Pittsburg USD 250 Globe Award for 2006-2007. Susan is active as a professional accompanist for Pittsburg State University and has appeared with composer John Leavitt several times in New York at Carnegie Hall. Her most recent appearance with Mr. Leavitt was May 2008, at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington, DC. For that concert, members of The Presbyterian Church Choir and 30 members of Susan's Encore Choir from Pittsburg High School were invited to sing under his direction.

Susan is also the accompanist for the KCDA annual convention, the KMEA District Choir, and for the KMEA All-State Choir. She played under the direction of Craig Jessop, the former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, in February 2011. In addition to her professional accompanying experiences, Susan has been a choral clinician for several area Honor Choirs.

Congratulations, KMEA 2012 Teacher of the Year, Ms. Susan Laushman!