Welcome to S.A.A
Working Advisory Council 2023-26
Laura Picco
Working Advisory Council Member
Board Member Emeritus
Laura Picco holds a BA in Elementary Education and an MS in Literacy from Alfred University. She also holds an AAS in Mortuary Science from Hudson Valley Community College. Laura has 13 years teaching experience. During that time, she served as grade level chairperson and was active on several committees to develop curriculum maps, scheduling, and unit planning guides. Laura currently works at the Dagon Funeral Home and is a Parish Council member and communicant at Our Lady of the Valley Parish.
Laura and her husband, Pasquale, have four children. Gennaro, Pasquale, and Marco all attended St. Ann's Academy and are currently honor students at Hornell High School. Nicholas has a degree in project management and lives in Ellicottville where he is a Journeyman Lineman. Laura achieved Board of Directors Emeritus status and is now active on the Working Advisory Council.
John Andrews
Director, Dave Gray's Legacy Fund
Working Advisory Council Member
John Andrews was lifelong friends with David Gray. They grew up together in Missouri, were college roommates, best man in each other's weddings, and more.
John has been a nonprofit association executive for nearly 40 years and is deeply involved in youth development and education.
His experience with institutional and long-term funds stewardship includes experience with many capital and endowment campaigns, in both professional and volunteer board roles.
Jerry O'Connor is a professional engineer who, in 2017, retired from teaching and serving Executive Director of the Institute of Bridge Engineering as at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. He earned his BS
and Master's degree in civil engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked in various engineering positions for New York State for 35 years. As a youth, he attended St. Ann's School
(St. Ann's Academy's predecessor) through eighth grade.
Jerry is motivated to serve as a volunteer at SAA so today's kids can have the same opportunity that he
and his siblings had when his parents chose to give them a Catholic education. "The Board of St. Ann's Academy is committed to providing individualized attention so each child can excel academically while being well-grounded socially and spiritually. Being an independent, non-profit school can be challenging but it also gives us the ability our own destiny, while continuing a fine tradition of faith-based education."