Lorrie Henrie-Koski

Lorrie Joan Henrie-Koski

Instructor, English, Philosophy & Modern Languages, CLASS

Ms. Lorrie Henrie-Koski is a master educator who brings knowledge, instructional expertise, and a great deal of caring to her students in a variety of writing classes. Her classes are always carefully prepared and engaging, with dynamic visuals and in-class activities to help students understand and practice the concepts and techniques being discussed.

Henrie-Koski’s connection to MSUB has evolved from Admissions Office administrative assistant in 1984 to Eastern Montana College graduate in 1987 to MSUB adjunct instructor in 2017. Henrie-Koski values the opportunity to serve with and learn from distinguished colleagues and to work with adult students. Using an interactive writers workshop approach, she encourages and guides students to grow as writers and to confidently add their voices to the conversations of the world around them.

Prior to returning to MSUB, Henrie-Koski had a 29-year career in K-12 education, with experiences including teaching in a two-room rural school, leading the design of Columbus Public Schools English/Language Arts curriculum, and providing writing instruction professional development for several school districts.

Outside of teaching, Henrie-Koski is co-director of the Elk River Writing Project, MSUB’s satellite site of the National Writing Project. She creates professional development opportunities for teachers to incorporate writing across their curriculum and to implement instructional techniques supported by the National Writing Project. These past two years she has designed and co-led Yellowstone National Park: Cultures, Conversations, and Contemplations, a place-based learning institute for teachers funded through a grant from the National Writing Project. She also mentors younger students as site director for Scholastic’s annual Art and Writing Awards for teens, and is a middle-level scorer and table leader for various NWP nationwide student writing scoring events.

Her contributions to her field and service to her students make Henrie-Koski a deserving recipient for the Excellence Award for Part-Time Faculty. Her nominator shares that “Lorrie’s generosity of spirit and supportive approach to teaching writing make her an invaluable part of the English and general education programs at MSUB.”