IN MEMORIAM: Margaret E. (Betty) Stephenson (1915-2003)

Montessori Life, Fall 2003

Remembering Veteran AMI Educators

After her studies in England with Mother Isabel Eugenie and Dr. Montessori, award of the AMI primary (1946) and elementary (1957) diplomas, and work as a Montessori teacher, Stephenson came to the US at the request of Mario Montessori and acted as his personal representative. Instrumental in establishing AMI training here in the 1960s, she served as director of the Washington Montessori Institute (1962-88), opened the Montessori Institute of Atlanta and served as temporary head (1968), and was director of training at the Montessori Institute of Milwaukee (1989-94). Her official positions within AMI included membership in the Pedagogical Committee, the AMI Board, and the Sponsoring Committee. A popular guest lecturer, she was much respected as a mentor and pedagogical compass. Renilde Montessori, AMI president, wrote,

Betty was one of the last pillars of the Old Guard. Trained by Maria Montessori, working closely with Mario Montessori, she was for more than half a century one of the staunchest, most consistent and enduring proponents of Montessori principles and practice of-in her own words-"Maria Montessori's Montessori."

-Source; AMI Communications

2003/2-3, pp. 10-11