When the school day ends at Trico Junior High, learning doesn’t stop. Twice a week, the lights stay on a little longer, pencils keep moving, and students gather for tutoring—a program designed to ensure no child slips through the cracks. Leading the effort is Tomi Wright, who is in her seventh year teaching math and who knows firsthand how vital this extra time can be.

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., Wright and a rotating team of five to seven teachers and paraprofessionals welcome students from grades six through eight. “This is only the first week, and we’ve already had ten to twelve kids each day,” Wright explained. “Some come because they’re struggling to finish assignments. Some were absent and need to catch up. Others just want to study for a quiz or get a little better at math.”

Wright herself teaches sixth-grade math and eighth-grade algebra. She knows the stakes. “We determine at the end of sixth grade who’s ready for the advanced track,” she said. “That opens up opportunities in high school—taking four years of math instead of three, getting to calculus, or just being more prepared for college and the real world.”

But tutoring isn’t just about academic advancement. It’s also about equity. “Some kids have a rough home life,” Wright shared. “They don’t have parents or guardians who can help them at night. Or their schedules are just crazy. Tutoring gives them that hour and a half of consistent support—two teachers in the room, ready to help.”

That support matters even more in a district like Trico, where diversity is growing. Families connected to local factories have brought more Hispanic students into the district, many of them English learners. “Language is tied to everything,” Wright said. “If you’re still learning English, math can be even harder. Tutoring gives us space to slow down, connect concepts, and make sure students really understand.”

For Wright, teaching was always a calling. A native of Du Quoin, she earned an elementary education degree with middle-level endorsements in math, science, social studies, and language arts—qualifications that let her teach anything from kindergarten through eighth grade. But math was always her favorite, and she’s found her place at Trico. “This isn’t my hometown, but after seven years here, it feels like it,” she said. “The community has been so welcoming.”

The tutoring program reflects that spirit of welcome. Staff members sign up for days that work in their schedules, ensuring two adults are always present. Wright herself has committed to every Tuesday and Thursday through December. “It’s about consistency,” she explained. “The kids know they’ll have a place to go, people to help, and the time they need.”

And while the goals might seem simple—catching up on homework, preparing for a quiz—the outcomes are anything but. Students return to class more confident, more prepared, and more able to keep pace with their peers. For some, it’s the difference between falling behind and discovering that they really can succeed.

“It’s not flashy,” Wright said, reflecting on the program. “But it makes a difference. The kids walk back into class the next day better prepared, and that matters. That’s why we do it.”

Because at Trico, success doesn’t just happen between the bells. Sometimes, it’s built in the quiet hours after school—when dedicated teachers like Tomi Wright make sure every student has the chance to move forward. And move forward they do.