My name is Nicholas  Ratajczak and I am currently a physical education & health teacher at O.W. Huth Middle School.
I graduated from University of Illinios at Chicago, in the summer of 1998, with a BA in education with certification in K-12 Physical Education.  I completed my masters degree in administraion, from Lewis University, in the fall of 2012. From 2008 until 2015 I taught P.E. & health for Joliet School District #81 for over 7 years. Then last year in December, 2015 I was hired by the Matteson School District #162 to work at O.W. Huth Middle School. I'm very excited about the start of my fourth year teaching Physical Education & Health.

Hobbies -  Traveling, running, biking, fishing, umpire IHSA Baseball, Coaching High School Volleyball

Family - My lovely wife Kelley of 10 years, and four wonderful kids; Natalie, Caitlin, Mia, and Nathan.

Favorite Sports Teams: Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Blackhawks

Favorite Food: Pizza, Steak, Fish, Chinese Food, Chocolate

Other Schools - Head Coach Boys & Girls Freshmen Volleyball at Joliet Central H.S. since 2013

Philosophy - I believe Physical Education is the most important class they will have at O.W. Huth Middle School.  My responsibility as a Physical Education teacher are, in my opinion, to show them the principels of F.I.T.T and how to apply it for the rest of their lives.I firmly believe all of my students are special and posses a wide variety of talent and skills.It is my mission to expose my students to a wide variety of activities, as to encourage him, or her, to discover and enhance these skills and academic knowledge of fitness as well as health.  As a professional educator, I will present these activities in a positive and professional manner, as to maximize the self-esteem and the self-confidence of my students.  As a result of physical education, my students will learn that physical fitness is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, not only now, but for the rest of their lives.

Accomplishments - Athletic Director Union School 2009-2015 (2015 IESA for School Sportmanship Award)

                            Track & Field Coach 2010-2015 (went down state IESA year after year in track)

                             Union School Girls Volleyball Head 2009-2015 ( Regional Championship game 3 consecutive years.) 

                              Jump Rope for Heart & Hoops for Heart Coordinator from 2008-2015. 

                              S.O.A.R.S Coordinator at YMCA 2012-2014.

Making A Difference 

In each and every one of us,
there is something very special.
We have all been gifted with the ability
to make a positive difference.

If we are fortunate enough
to fully accept and acknowledge that gift,
we gain the mana -- the power -- to shape the future.