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Larry Neumann
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1st-4th Grade Drama
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In addition to teaching 1st-4th grade drama at SAA, Mr. Neumann also directs our middle school spring musical and assists with the fall dramatic production.
Mr. Neumann received his undergraduate teaching degree from Concordia University and went on to obtain a masters in theatre at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. While working on children's theatre productions at Concordia, he met his wife, Darlene, who designed and made his costume for his role as the Red Fox in Pinocchio.
After high school, Mr Neumann was bitten by the performance bug while touring with a dramatic performance group. He loved being in front of an audience, being part of a team, and sharing something magical with people.
After he completed his masters degree, Mr. Neumann became an elementary school teacher, incorporating drama into his classroom while directing both plays and musicals. Joining the Illinois Theatre Association, he became a state representative for Creative Drama. He was also asked to join the State of Illinois Task Force on Arts in Education.
After teaching in Danville for two years and in Peoria for five years, Mr. Neumann and his family moved to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, he served as the unit leader at the Hong Kong International School in a multi-age first through sixth grade group of about 100 students. Mr. Neumann realized that among all his students, he was drawn most to the gifted children, and wanted to learn how to be the best educator for them.
When he returned to the US, Mr. Neumann began a second masters in gifted education. He has worked with the National Association of Gifted Children, the Illinois Association of Gifted Children, and the World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children.
His introduction to SAA was through the library doors, as his wife, Darlene Neumann, serves as the SAA Librarian. Mr. Neumann volunteered in our library and served as a substitute teacher in many of SAA’s classrooms. The SAA community came to know him in those roles, and he quickly began to realize what a special place SAA is for gifted students.
Outside of his drama classes and directing work, Mr. Neumann serves as a coach for SAA’s Science Olympiad team. He is active in his church and is a professional storyteller, performing with his wife as Two Voices Storytelling.
Mr. Neumann received his undergraduate teaching degree from Concordia University and went on to obtain a masters in theatre at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. While working on children's theatre productions at Concordia, he met his wife, Darlene, who designed and made his costume for his role as the Red Fox in Pinocchio.
After high school, Mr Neumann was bitten by the performance bug while touring with a dramatic performance group. He loved being in front of an audience, being part of a team, and sharing something magical with people.
After he completed his masters degree, Mr. Neumann became an elementary school teacher, incorporating drama into his classroom while directing both plays and musicals. Joining the Illinois Theatre Association, he became a state representative for Creative Drama. He was also asked to join the State of Illinois Task Force on Arts in Education.
After teaching in Danville for two years and in Peoria for five years, Mr. Neumann and his family moved to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, he served as the unit leader at the Hong Kong International School in a multi-age first through sixth grade group of about 100 students. Mr. Neumann realized that among all his students, he was drawn most to the gifted children, and wanted to learn how to be the best educator for them.
When he returned to the US, Mr. Neumann began a second masters in gifted education. He has worked with the National Association of Gifted Children, the Illinois Association of Gifted Children, and the World Conference on Gifted and Talented Children.
His introduction to SAA was through the library doors, as his wife, Darlene Neumann, serves as the SAA Librarian. Mr. Neumann volunteered in our library and served as a substitute teacher in many of SAA’s classrooms. The SAA community came to know him in those roles, and he quickly began to realize what a special place SAA is for gifted students.
Outside of his drama classes and directing work, Mr. Neumann serves as a coach for SAA’s Science Olympiad team. He is active in his church and is a professional storyteller, performing with his wife as Two Voices Storytelling.
