Mrs. Novotny was born in California but moved to Tampa, Florida when she was 10 and considers Florida to be her home. She fell in love with science on her first visit to Sea World when she was five years old. By the time she was eight, she knew that conservation education is what she wanted to do. She attended the University of Tampa and graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Marine Science. While attending college, she volunteered at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) in the sea turtle department. Throughout her experience there, she prepared daily feedings, ensured proper medication was administered and assisted the on-site vet with triage procedures on the sea turtle residents. She conducted public awareness briefings about sea turtles, mangrove habitats, fish, and stingrays of the Gulf of Mexico and also human interaction impacts on the environment. While at CMA, she found a love for teaching others about the world in which we live. She worked at Funky Fish Ocean Camp and taught children about the ocean and how to conserve the wildlife while still enjoying the environment. She is excited to be a part of the Sheridan Wolves family teaching Marine Science and Biology Honors.

On a more personal note, Mrs. Notovny is a huge Tampa Bay Lightning fan as well as a Disney fanatic. She enjoys going snorkeling, rollerblading, bike riding, and reading a good book in a hammock.