How BookNook drives virtual tutoring impact with cloud-native, self-service analytics

BookNook delivers high-impact virtual tutoring in reading and math to help K–8 students close learning gaps. Designed for school districts and educational nonprofits, the platform supports live, data-informed instruction while handling the operational heavy lifting – scheduling, tutor management, and program reporting. Every part of the experience is designed to support students who need it the most.

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But as the company scaled, the cracks in their data systems became impossible to ignore. They had plenty of data, but what they really needed was better analytics. Accessible, purposeful insights that could support smarter, faster decisions across teams.

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“We wanted to get away from reactive reporting. Astrato helped us shift toward intentional, purposeful analytics that people actually use.” – Lorrae Famiglietti, Director of Product Strategy at BookNook

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That meant delivering data in a way that matched how different people work. BookNook is building out guided, persona-based analytics, so each team sees the right metrics, at the right time, in the right way.

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From patchwork to operational power

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Before Astrato, BookNook’s data story was familiar: static reports built by engineers, hard to change and even harder to understand. Teams spent hours stitching together exports in Excel and Google Sheets – just to get a partial view of what was happening.

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“Data was a challenge, but also an opportunity. The reports we had weren’t flexible, and they definitely weren’t helping us move fast.”

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That pain point became a turning point. As BookNook’s platform and product strategy evolved, so did the need for a reporting layer that could keep up. Astrato, layered on top of Snowflake, offered a way forward: live, flexible dashboards that didn’t require heavy engineering lift.

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“We wanted something cloud-native, low-code, and built to grow with us. Our data is always evolving – the platforms have to evolve too.”

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Today, teams are using data operationally – for decisions around tutor staffing, tracking student progress, and supporting program outcomes in real time. It’s not just access. It’s access with purpose.

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“We’re moving fast. Astrato helped us go from patchwork spreadsheets to a system that actually supports our day-to-day work. We can spin up reports and insights in real-time during conversations with our internal teams.”

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And the shift is sticking. Usage is not only up –  it’s consistent.

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A 54.9% return rate shows that over half of BookNook’s users log in daily – a powerful sign of adoption and habit-building.

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Building confidence, not just access

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BookNook’s shift wasn’t just about tools. It was a cultural change. They wanted data to feel useful – not overwhelming – for everyone.

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“Data without clarity is just noise. It’s not just about giving people access. We want the data to land – to be usable, to be clear, and to help someone take action.”

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That meant shifting from data dumping to data storytelling. The team prioritized surfacing the right data, in the right format, at the right moment.
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“We stopped handing people raw numbers and started building narratives. We knew we couldn’t scale impact without scaling understanding. That shift helped us double the number of internal check-ins using data – and made it way easier to spot where students need support sooner. Since implementing Astrato, active users have grown by 155%, highlighting a company-wide shift toward consistent, confident data use.”

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And it’s working. Teams are talking about data differently. In cross-functional meetings, dashboards have replaced guesswork.

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“We used to talk about metrics in an abstract way. Now we just pull up a dashboard and go through it together – it’s become a normal part of how we operate.”

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Making data work for schools and districts

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Astrato also powers the milestone reports BookNook delivers to customers – at the two-week, mid-program, and end-of-program marks. These structured touchpoints help schools track student progress and identify what’s working.

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“We built these milestone reports directly in Astrato and share them with school partners. They help us track progress together and make adjustments in real-time.”

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Beyond structured reports, BookNook provides granular data exports. That flexibility allows schools to cross-compare BookNook data with their own assessments.

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“It’s exciting to see schools take our data and line it up with their own – it makes the outcomes  real, not abstract. We can get deep insights into student progress and instructional effectiveness. When districts overlay our data with their assessment data, the “so-what” clicks instantly.”

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Why Astrato: flexible, secure, and made for growth

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BookNook had clear requirements: no-code access, low technical lift, and high standards for data governance.

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“We’re in education. That means data privacy isn’t optional – it’s foundational. We needed full visibility and control over how data is used.”

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They evaluated other BI platforms, including Looker and Power BI, but eventually went with Astrato. It was easy to adopt and offered enough flexibility to support a constantly evolving platform.

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“Once we got the keys to the kingdom, it was very straightforward. We started building what we needed right away.”

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And when BookNook needed support, Astrato showed up.

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“The Astrato team has been incredibly supportive and patient. They spent time helping us improve our setup – and that made a big difference.”

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Getting more from the semantic layer

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The semantic layer in Astrato has become a key part of BookNook’s workflow. It’s where they align on definitions, structure complex data, and uncover insights before jumping into visuals.

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“The visual layer is great, but only if the data underneath is solid. I spend most of my time in the semantic layer – that’s where the real understanding happens. We’ve learned a lot about our own data just by working in the semantic layer. It’s helped us uncover structure and meaning we didn’t see before.”

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The semantic layer acts as a bridge between raw data and end-user visuals, standardizing definitions, cleaning up joins, and ensuring that everyone is working from the same foundation. For BookNook, it’s the layer where understanding clicks into place.

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Even AI has played a quiet but helpful role.

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“I’ve used the AI tools in Astrato to troubleshoot complex joins - that’s been a surprisingly helpful feature.”

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Laying the groundwork for what’s next

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BookNook isn’t done. With the data foundation in place, the team is turning its attention to the next phase: making insights simpler, clearer, and more accessible.

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“We’ve spent time getting the data right. Now we want the visuals to feel intuitive, actionable, and clear.”

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They know not everyone is a data expert – and that’s the point. The goal is to help every team get what they need, fast.

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“Sometimes the best thing you can do is make something simpler. That’s where we’re headed.”

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While the journey with Astrato is still unfolding, the foundation is solid, and the impact is already visible. Dashboard views have grown 8.5x, reflecting rapid adoption and growing appetite for insight across the business.

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“Astrato has allowed us to consolidate reporting and insights in one place – in a way that’s actually useful and accessible. And it’s given us the foundation to grow as our data practices evolve. I’m starting to see it all come together. It’s not just about analytics, it’s about empowering our teams and partners to deliver stronger outcomes for every student we serve.”

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