Director of Curriculum and Instruction / Director of the Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library and Learning Center
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, California State University Northridge
Master of Arts in English, Northern Arizona University
In 2013, Mrs. Jennifer Novotney joined the MMI family and has served the School in a number of capacities during her tenure. She was the English Department Chair and an English Instructor from 2013-2022 and then, in 2023, became the Director of the Joseph A. Turri ’45 Library and Learning Center, where she oversees the library program and academic support services. In 2024, Mrs. Novotney was named the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and administrative position which expanded her responsibilities at MMI to include curriculum development and implementation, instructional leadership, assessment and evaluation of student learning, and faculty resource management. She will continue to lead the Library while assuming the new administrative duties.
This summer, Mrs. Novotney successfully completed the Pennsylvania Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s online Curriculum Leadership Academy in preparation for her expanded responsibilities. This intensive program provides a comprehensive professional learning experience focused on curriculum leadership covering key topics such as foundations of curriculum leadership, curriculum design analysis, curriculum development and revision, and curriculum implementation and evaluation. She also holds Pennsylvania Instructional Credentials in English 7-12 and Library Science PK-12.
Originally from Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Novotney has an extensive background in education, having taught English and coordinated the Gifted and Talented Program within the Los Angeles Unified School District. After relocating to Northeast Pennsylvania, she taught English, writing, and literature courses at Penn State University, Misericordia University, and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from California State University Northridge, a Master of Arts in English from Northern Arizona University, and a Pennsylvania Instructional Credential in both English (7-12) and Library Science (PK-12).
Mrs. Novotney’s dedication to education has been recognized with several awards, including the 2016 National Council of Teachers of English High School Teacher of Excellence Award and the 2017 YWCA PEARL Award (Professionalism, Excellence, Achievement, Role Model/Responsibility and Leadership) for Professional Achievement in Education. She also served as the Vice President for Secondary Schools for the Pennsylvania Council of Teachers of English from 2016-2019. Under her guidance, her students have achieved notable success in state-wide and national programs such as Poetry Out Loud, Scholastic Art and Writing, and the Pennsylvania School Press Association Student Journalism Competition.
She resides in Freeland with her husband, Tim, and daughter, Serena. In her spare time, Mrs. Novotney enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and spending time with her family.