Pete Gipson is beginning his twentieth year of teaching elementary music, his sixteenth year at Sunflower Elementary School. His prior teaching experience includes four years of teaching elementary music and orchestra classes at Kennedy Elementary in Lawrence. Mr. Gipson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education (2004) from Kansas State University. He also holds a Masters Degree in Instructional Design & Technology from Emporia State University. (2012)

Mr. Gipson has directed the Sunflower Elementary Choir since the fall of 2010, and also facilitates the school's Modern Band program, which enables students to explore music through contemporary music and instruction in guitar, ukulele, bass, keyboards, vocals, and drum set. Sunflower 5th Grade students have the opportunity to participate in both class-based and before-school rock band programs.  In 2014, he was named “Elementary Educator of The Year” by the Lawrence Schools Foundation. He was also named the 2018 Northeast KMEA Elementary Vocal Teacher of the Year, and in 2019 was recognized as Lawrence Public Schools' Elementary Teacher of the Year. In 2020, he received the Impact Award from the Lied Center of the University of Kansas.

The Sunflower Choir has been recognized statewide for their excellent performances, having been selected to perform at the annual Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop in Wichita, KS on three occasions, (2015, 2018, 2021). 33 Sunflower Choir members have been selected to perform in the KMEA All-State Elementary Honor Choir since its inception in 2016. 

Mr. Gipson lives in Lawrence with his wife, Karen, and son, Ethan.

Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding your student's music education at Sunflower Elementary School.