Bonnie Binkley Assembly

Lotspeich students were captivated by Playhouse in the Park’s performance of “Tomás and the Library Lady” at The Schiff Center during the annual Bonnie Binkley assembly.

Adapted from Pat Mora’s beloved book, the play tells the true story of Tomás Rivera, an acclaimed Mexican-American author and educator who became the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system. The story highlights Rivera’s life-changing summer in Iowa, where he formed a special bond with a librarian.

The performance depicted the hardships Rivera faced, the joy he discovered in books, and the meaningful connections he shared with his family and a compassionate librarian.

Before the show, Lotspeich world language teacher Megan Hayes reflected on Binkley’s influence during her years at Seven Hills.

“This performance is a tribute to Mrs. Binkley and the memory of a remarkable member of our Lotspeich and Seven Hills community,” Hayes said. “She was a talented teacher who exemplified ‘Joy in Learning.’ Her former colleagues spoke of her inspiring creativity as a gourmet cook, decorator, etiquette expert, and, of course, teacher. These gifts and more made teaching with her special and learning so much fun for her students.”