People: Teacher Solves Chicago's Biggest Political Mystery

Even as the notoriety and mystery grew, only a handful of folks were able to figure out who the hilarious and profane Twitterer known as @MayorEmanuel really was before he revealed himself recently as a Chicago professor and punk zine publisher (The Man Behind @MayorEmanuel).  One of the few to crack the code was Seth Lavin (pictured, I think), currently a second-year Chicago 5th grade teacher who figured out @MayorEmanuel's real identity during a recent blizzard using nothing more than his crazy brainpower and tricky social media skills you and I probably lack.  Great news, right?  Except he's a TFA corps member, former Bain consultant, went to Georgetown ('07) and is a new dad at 25.  For all I know, he teaches at a charter school or pays dues but hasn't joined the union. That being said, he says he's been reading my Chicago schools blog since before he started teaching, so he can't be all bad.  And -- be honest -- it's fun that a teacher figured out the mystery ahead of almost everyone else and was cool enough to keep the secret until the story played out.  

Comments

[Jeff]

Very cool cartoon and storyline. I suppose only in Chicago and it amazes me what catches people's attention and the buzz behind finding the culprit. In the end of course, Emmanuel was able to use it to his advantage, gaining more publicity.

At the end of the day, it was a teacher who figured out the mystery. Hail to all 5th grade teachers!