Sally Stimson Dorn

88, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020. The Dallas educator and Montessori pioneer was born May 23, 1932 in Topeka, Kansas to Audrey Orlena McBride and Howard William Stimson. After graduating from Highland Park High School, Sally received a BA in Education from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in both Grand Prairie and Ft. Smith, Arkansas. In the mid-1960s, Sally discovered the Montessori education method when seeking a preschool for her children. This led to teaching at Montessori Academy (which later became St. Alcuin Montessori School, now known as Alcuin School) for five years. In 1970 she moved with her family to Bergamo, Italy to take the AMI Montessori Elementary training along with her husband, Barry. Upon completing the year long course, Sally taught Lower Elementary (1-3 grades) at St. Alcuin for many years. After leaving the classroom, she served as the Elementary Coordinator and the school’s first Admissions Director until her retirement in 1997 for a total of 31 years. Never really retired, Sally served on the Advisory Boards and continued to assist and mentor at St. Alcuin and other Dallas-area Montessori schools as well as at the Montessori Institute of North Texas.

Sally was an accomplished calligrapher and especially enjoyed teaching her skill to children. She loved to sing, participating in her high school choir and musicals, the Jim Henderson Chorale and her church’s annual Christmas program. She loved music, and was often out with her family or friends listening to live music, from choir and orchestra concerts to musicals (Jersey Boys - 5 times on 2 continents). Traveling was a favorite pastime, especially to Colorado, England and Switzerland. She was fortunate to be able to see many many places, including Iceland and Haiti. A perpetual student, she also enjoyed taking French for many years. Sally was a life-long member of Third Church of Christ, Scientist. Preceded in death by her husband Barry, she is survived by son, Andrew Gilman Dorn and wife, Nancy; daughter, Audrey Dorn Wilkerson and husband, Mitchell; grandchildren, Andie Caroline Dorn, Olivia Jane Wilkerson and Reece Gilman Dorn, as well as numerous loved family members, friends and Montessori colleagues. Due to COVID, the memorial service will be postponed until it is appropriate to be held. Once a memorial service has been scheduled, the information will be updated on the Sparkman-Hillcrest website.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Third Church of Christ, Scientist or the Sally Stimson Dorn Scholarship Fund at the Montessori Institute of North Texas.