Shawano’s Brittney Firari Named 2026 Wisconsin Instructional Leader of the Year

Brittney Firari, the literacy coordinator for the Shawano School District in Wisconsin, has received the 2026 Wisconsin Instructional Leader of the Year award from Wisconsin Teaching and Learning Leaders. The statewide honor goes to education leaders who show dedication to curriculum, instruction, assessment and student achievement.

The article says Firari has been central to how Shawano put Wisconsin Act 20, the state's early literacy law, into practice. Her work included helping build procedures, assessment steps, classroom supports and individual reading plans. Joanne Edwards, an instructional coach in the district who nominated her, says this leadership kept Shawano ahead of many other districts and that students are showing growth. Edwards also describes Firari as well liked by both students and teachers.

Firari mainly works with students from 4K through second grade at Hillcrest Primary School. Edwards says other schools, including the middle school and Olga Brener Intermediate School, also turn to her for literacy help. She works with regional service agencies CESA 6 and CESA 8 and has built ties with local private religious schools, Head Start staff, volunteers and the district's services for multilingual students. Award recipients are recognized at the organization's fall conference.