Julianne Costa: Art teacher and published photographer

When Julianne (Tvaroha) Costa met her high school sweetheart, Anthony, in driver education class at Groton High School (GHS), she never would have dreamed she would one day become an art teacher at her alma mater, much less a published photographer, yet that is precisely how things ended up.

Julianne (Julie) grew up in Groton with her parents, John and Deborah Tvaroha, and her brother, Tyler. A 2002 GHS alumna, Julie played and enjoyed soccer, basketball and softball, but art was always her true love.

“When I was in middle school, my art teacher, Jackie Côte, ignited the fire in me,” Julie said. “Then in high school, my teacher, JoAnn Morrison, put gasoline on it! [Morrison] brought her own artwork in to class, which inspired me to think outside the box. Hers was real art, and I knew in my heart then that I had to teach it.”

Julie’s career in art education is born

After graduating from GHS, Julie went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in studio art at SUNY Cortland in 2006 and a master’s degree in art education at Syracuse University (SU) in 2010. During her undergraduate years, Julie also took classes at the Cortland County SPCA and earned her peace officer certification.

“During and after my college years, I was an animal cruelty officer for the SPCA, which was a very rewarding job,” Julie said. Her love for animals is evident, but even more so is her love for her daughter, Carly.

“Anthony [Costa] and I started out studying for driver education together, but we’ve been inseparable ever since,” Julie explained. “We were married on a Wednesday evening, July 30, 2014 — the anniversary of our first date — and Carly was born in October 2015.”

Shortly after Julie graduated from SU, a position opened up for an art teacher at Groton Elementary School, and she was hired in January 2011. She remains there today. As of fall 2025, she is also teaching art in the junior high school.

“It was when Carly was born that my passion for photography was also born,” Julie said. “I saw the world differently and wanted to capture every detail about Carly, from the way the little hairs stuck out of her braids to the way she stood on her tippy toes to the way her freckles go across her nose.”

From photography as a hobby to becoming a published photographer

Wanting to learn as much as possible about photography, Julie got involved with various groups of photographers on social media, through which she discovered a publication, “Run Wild My Child” out of Chesterfield, Missouri, which focuses on getting children outdoors. Its editor, Sara McCarty, was the catalyst for Julie’s discovery of the publication, because Julie had noticed it in McCarty’s biography on social media.

“In about mid-July 2021, Sara [McCarty] had spotted one of my many pieces of photography in one of the social media platforms we both frequented,” Julie said. “It was from a time when Carly and I had been picking blueberries at Grisamore Farms. I took a photo of Carly, but I wanted to take that bright and sunny day photo and turn it into something with a completely different feel. I had to manipulate the colors and shadows and adjust the depth of field with the objects in the photo, and I did that with Photoshop.”

The photo impressed McCarty enough to save it, but it wasn’t until August 2025 when McCarty emailed Julie asking for permission to publish it in the fall 2025 issue of  “Run Wild My Child.” Julie readily agreed.

“I’ve done a lot of [photography] work for online printing and clothing companies,” Julie explained, “but I’m more ‘old school,’ so to see my work in tactile form — something I could actually hold in my hands — was really exciting. I received the hard copy in the mail, and then I ordered a second copy for my dad.”

Julie truly loves teaching art, loves her students and her family (especially Carly!), and she takes immense pride and delight in all of that. Photography has opened up a new world of discovery for Julie. Her talent is reflected in a whole new way because of it and is now published for all to see and enjoy.

“The way photography has taught me to see the world is something I hope I can pass along to my students,” Julie said. “If I can teach them to see the world as an artist, my job is done.”   

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Ridge Runners spaghetti supper

The Groton Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club will hold a spaghetti supper from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at its clubhouse, 748 Salt Rd. Meals include spaghetti and meatballs and a side salad. Cost is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, and $10 for children ages 5-12. Children 4 and under may eat for free. Take-out dinners are also available.

Village leaf pickup reminder

Residents of the village of Groton may have their raked leaves picked up and taken away through Dec. 1. Leaves should be raked to the curb or street side for pickup. Plastic bags, brush or vines will not be accepted.

Travel youth basketball

Registration for the John Tobin Basketball League for Groton girls and boys in grades four through six will be open through Nov. 9 at grotonnyrecreation.com. The program fee is $65 and includes a uniform. Weeknight practice sessions will begin in early December, and games will start on Saturdays in January 2026. Games are played primarily in Cortland at the County Gym, Cortland High School Gym, YMCA and YWCA.