SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT
Bishop Amat Memorial High School
Rooted in its mission to form faith-filled leaders in the values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge, Bishop Amat has long been a cornerstone of Catholic education in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.
But to support a diverse staff and student population just 30 miles outside of Los Angeles, staying connected to the school meant providing information around the clock, especially outside school hours.
Nancy Velasquez, Bishop Amat’s Director of Development & Alumni Relations, saw an opportunity to bridge a persistent communication gap.
“People want to get information as quickly as possible,” Nancy explained, and despite having a well-organized website, families often turned to phone calls or emails to get quick answers. “We have a cohesive website with a lot of content, but people don’t always have the time, or want to take the time, to dig through it.”
At a Glance
Sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Bishop Amat offers a college-preparatory curriculum enriched by tradition, academic rigor, and a strong sense of community.
The Challenge | Families Needed Faster Answers
For families applying to Bishop Amat or trying to stay up to date, the search bar had become a lifeline. Nancy noticed it consistently ranked high in site analytics, confirming that users were actively looking for faster ways to get information.
“They were searching a lot, especially on the admissions side,” she said. “And that told me they needed answers quickly, without having to scroll through page after page.”
And although the school regularly pushes out timely updates through email newsletters, social posts, and homepage pop-ups, questions still rolled in, especially after hours, during breaks, or on weekends. “Families still want to talk to someone,” said Nancy. “They’ll call and ask for information we’ve already shared, because they either missed it or don’t want to search for it.”
“If we're not here and you have a question, we now have a chatbot on our website that you can use to help answer questions. You're essentially adding an additional person to your staff.”
NANCY VELASQUEZ
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS
The Solution | An Always-Available Guide to Support Families and Staff
Nancy saw Ask AI, Finalsite’s AI- powered chatbot, as a natural extension of their communication efforts; an always-on resource that could give families instant answers, even when the office was closed. Launched right before the winter holiday break, Ask AI’s impact was immediate.
Over the break, families used the chatbot to ask about placement test dates, prep courses, and deadlines—all while staff were away. “We saw a lot of activity right after we launched it, and it was the perfect timing,” Nancy recalled.
“We saw a lot of people asking about admissions, because right when we get back, all the admissions materials are due, and deadlines are approaching. We were off campus, but people were still getting what they needed."
One session in particular, from a Spanish-speaking user, caught Nancy’s attention. “It did a really good job of answering the family in Spanish,” she said. “They were asking about financial aid, and it answered all the questions they asked.”
It also helped the staff. Nancy shared how even front office employees began using it as a resource to assist families.
”They know a lot, but they don't know every single thing that's happening every day, and they’re not going to call every department to find out,” she said. “Now they type the question into the chatbot, get the answer, and help the caller immediately.”
The chatbot also became an internal tool for quality assurance. It revealed when information needed to be updated, like when someone asked about a coach who had recently changed. “It was an oversight on our part,” Nancy admitted. “But seeing that in the chat helped us fix it right away. It’s become a way to monitor and improve the site in real time.”
Bringing the Bishop Amat Brand to Life
Customization played a big role in how seamlessly Ask AI fit into the Bishop Amat experience. Nancy branded the chatbot as the "Amat Lancer," after the school’s mascot. “It looks and feels like it’s coming from someone in our community,” she said. “It doesn’t sound generic; it sounds like us.”
She appreciated being able to tailor the tone and voice to reflect the values of the school. “It answers the way I would answer,” she said. “It’s consistent, and it stays focused on Bishop Amat.”
The bot even understands context. When students asked about dress code rules or discipline policies, Ask AI responded with guidance from the student handbook, while also explaining the “why” behind the rules.
“It doesn’t just say, ‘Here are the rules.’ It ties it back to what our school stands for: goodness, discipline, and knowledge.”
The Results | Helping Families, Supporting Staff & Strengthening Communication
In just a month after its launch, Ask AI had fielded nearly 400 questions, and the data proved valuable. By analyzing question trends, Nancy was able to anticipate seasonal needs, like the demand for summer school information in January, and prioritize updates for future site improvements.
“There are actionable items that are happening as you're reviewing the questions,” she said. “It really gives us insight as far as what information we’d need to get out sooner than we had in the previous years.”
Ask AI has also contributed to a more confident and connected community, something that aligns perfectly with Bishop Amat’s mission to walk alongside families in faith and education.
“We have so much going on, and our campus is massive,” Nancy said. “If we're not here and you have a question, we now have a chatbot on our website that you can use to help answer questions. You're essentially adding an additional person to your staff.”
Want to try Ask AI for Free?
Sign up for a free trial and see how Finalsite's AI Chatbot supports multilingual families, improves mobile access, and streamlines communication—24/7, in 45+ languages.
Is your messaging reaching its potential?
Evaluate the effectiveness of your school’s email, messaging, mass notifications, and more!