He earned a BA in English and a BA in French in 1996 from Vanderbilt, graduating with honors in each subject. He then studied English literature at Keble College of Oxford University as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. Upon returning to the United States, he taught English, language arts, and music at the middle and high school levels before returning to Vanderbilt’s Peabody College to pursue his doctoral degree in teaching and learning. While at Peabody, Laughter supervised student teachers in Nashville and Cambridge, England; wrote reports and protocols for NCATE accreditation; and served as the lead editorial assistant for the National Reading Conference Yearbook. He earned his PhD in 2009.