During Southland College Prep Charter High School’s homecoming pep rally Wednesday, band director Ron Harrigan was surprised with the news he is the Illinois Network of Charter High Schools’ Teacher of the Year.
Southland College Prep, in Richton Park, was the only charter high school to receive “exemplary” status from the Illinois State Board of Education this year. Its student population is 585, the school said.
“We’re a small school — everybody knows everybody and everyone looks out for everybody,” Harrigan told reporters after receiving the award. “We try to not allow any student to fall behind.”
Harrigan’s relationship with Southland College Prep dates back to the school’s founding in 2010. While also teaching at Huth Middle School in Matteson, Harrigan was the Richton Park high school’s part-time band director for two years.
After being full-time director of bands at Huth, Harrigan returned to Southland College Prep part-time in 2017 as associate band director and became full-time director of bands in 2020.
Harrigan’s honor follows the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra naming him its inaugural music educator of the year in April.
Carl Cogar, Southland College Prep’s director of fine arts, said in addition to being a talented trumpet player and pianist, Harrigan encourages growth in every student he works with.
“He has a clear vision of what it is he wants to see kids accomplish and how he wants them to sound,” Cogar said. “And he has that singular focus on helping kids become better, not just better musicians but better people altogether.”
Cogar said he felt like a “proud papa” hearing that Harrigan would be honored as the state charter school’s educator of the year.
“He is one of the most talented people I’ve ever met,” Cogar said. “And he has a knack for getting kids to achieve more than they thought they could.”
Born and raised in the British Virgin Islands, Harrigan leads more than 100 Southland College Prep students in five main troupes: marching band, wind ensemble, concert band, jazz ensemble and percussion ensemble. The school also has smaller chamber groups including bass ensemble, flute ensemble and clarinet choir.
The high school’s marching band and Lady Eagles were invited to WorldStrides’ Orlando Heritage Festival at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, where students performed earlier this year, and were invited to perform in the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Parade spring 2026.
Senior student Heaven Anderson, who plays drums, clarinet and bass, said Harrigan has been a mentor since she started at Southland College Prep.
“He’s just a person I feel like I can go to at any time,” Anderson said. “I can tell him anything, and he can give me advice.”
Harrigan led the marching band ahead of receiving the surprise reward, and said after 18 years teaching, he “still gets butterflies” watching them perform.
“I’m excited that they get a chance to showcase what they’ve been working on,” Harrigan said. “And they’re having fun — that’s what it’s about. Music (is something) you should enjoy, you should be able to express yourself as an artist and a listener.”
ostevens@chicagotribune.com