Lachele Vaughan

Mrs. Lachele Nicole Vaughan started her musical career taking piano lessons and singing in her church choirs. She began to study music more seriously in high school by taking guitar, music theory, band, chorus to later become the first Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State singer of Hatboro-Horsham High School by her junior year.  By her senior year, she travelled to New York to sing in the PMEA All-Eastern chorus festival.

 

In 1995, Mrs. Vaughan began studying music education at Penn State University.  While at Happy Valley, Mrs. Vaughan sang in numerous choirs, played in the campus band, and became the first student conductor of the Nittany Valley Children’s Choir under the direction of Mrs. LuAnn Shafer.  She also was the soprano soloist of a local church in State College.  Mrs. Vaughan graduated with a B.S. in Music Education with a vocal emphasis and felt honored to be chosen as the soloist at her graduation December of 1999.

 

For leisure, Mrs. Vaughan competed in the Miss America organization pageants.  She eventually won the title of Miss Greater Juniata Valley in 1999 and moved forward to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant.  Her platform was Building Self-Esteem through the Arts which is still a focus near and dear to her heart.  

           

January of 2000, Mrs. Vaughan started her teaching career at Milton Hershey School.  She taught PreK-5th grade general music, private vocal lessons, and directed the MHS gospel choir.  In conjunction with teaching, Mrs. Vaughan found time to complete her M.Ed. at Penn State. Also while teaching, Mrs. Vaughan performed in local theaters.  One of her favorite productions was playing Dorothy in The Wiz starring Sherman Hemsley (from the hit TV show The Jeffersons).  She also has enjoyed singing with the Essence of Joy Alumni Choir, under the direction of Dr. Anthony Leach.  On one of the EOJA tours, Mrs. Vaughan made her Eastern European debut on the stage of Smetana Hall in Prague singing “Summertime” from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.  

           

In 2005, Mrs. Vaughan started teaching in Lower Merion School District.  She was the vocal music teacher, music director of shows, and a track coach for about 10 years.  Welsh Valley Middle School is where she fell in love, dated, and married the love of her life, Kenny Vaughan.  Fun fact: their middle school students set them up! They got married on 7/7/07 at 7:00PM and were quickly blessed with two amazing children, Ken III (15) and Leila Nicole (13).

           

Mrs. Vaughan has her own private music studio where she teaches beginner piano and voice lessons to 25 students ranging from ages 5-65. Her students endearingly call her “Ms. Lachele” and frequently have students land leading roles in their musicals and make their schools’ select ensembles. Mrs. Vaughan has hosted PMEA song fests and has been a guest conductor for PMEA county choirs.  Her most recent guest conducting appearance was for the 2022 PMEA Centre County Middle School County Choir Festival hosted by her good friend, Eric Brinser.

           

Mrs. Vaughan currently teaches middle school general music and chorus at Holland Middle School in Council Rock School District.  She also directs the musicals at her school and has served on various committees within her school district. While not teaching, Mrs. Vaughan enjoys going on dates with her husband, spending time with family and friends, cuddling with her dog, Mira, cheering her son on as he plays lacrosse, and listening to her daughter play the flute and dance on pointe.