WICHITA ACCELERATION ACADEMIES Peyton Campbell: With Hard Work and Help from WAA, His Forecast Calls for Blue Skies Ahead To see Peyton Campbell glide around the room at Wichita <strong>Acceleration</strong> <strong>Academies</strong>, you’d never guess that he’s a young man who’s seen his share of struggle. Sporting a Carhartt work shirt and well-worn leather boots, the teenager greets his elders as “whippersnappers,” waxes enthusiastic about his plans to sell roller-equipped boots on Shark Tank, and geeks out about tornadoes. Not long ago, Peyton’s world seemed to be coming apart. After cycling through the Kansas foster care system for a decade, he was pulled yet again from his parents’ home and was unsure where he would spend his senior year. Peyton wasn’t eager to plunge into a brand new school full of unfamiliar teachers and classmates. He decided to try WAA and its flexible, personalized approach. He felt right at home and began coming to campus when the doors opened, then studying until they closed at night. He was able to power through his remaining classes and — the day before his 18th birthday — celebrate his diploma. “I came in every single day, just kept knocking out classes,” says Peyton. And he did it with help from the caring team of educators at WAA. He credits, “ “If I’m just by myself, I get distracted, get off pace,” he says. “Kevin and Jarrett would say, ‘Come on, let’s just get it done.’ ” among others, English coach Jarrett Schaef and social studies coach Kevin Farlow for helping him stay on task. “If I’m just by myself, I get distracted, get off pace,” he says. “Kevin and Jarrett would say, ‘Come on, let’s just get it done.’ ” Even before he graduated, Peyton had his future mapped out. Fascinated with weather since he was a child growing up in the Midwest’s Tornado Alley, he decided he wanted to become a TV meteorologist and approached KSN-TV to pitch himself as an intern. While he hasn’t been on camera yet, Peyton practices in front of the green screen whenever he can and works closely with the station’s weather team to build forecasts and chase after the storms moving through. With college in the forecast, his future is looking sunny, indeed. “Peyton knows exactly what he wants to do,” says WAA Director Chris Turner. Graduation candidate advocate Veronica Headings adds, “He has that drive. I think we’ll see him on the news one day.” 20 <strong>Pathways</strong> | Spring 2023
This is why we’re here. <strong>Pathways</strong> | Spring 2023 21
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