I was a high school English teacher at CPS, Curie High School, on the Southwest side. Before that, I taught in Barrow, Alaska—about as far north as you can go. I’ve always had an affinity for adventure.

Clayton: How are you doing today, Jesus?

Jesus: I'm doing fine. I just had a great session with you at See You Soon Studios. It was a wonderful experience, great time.

Cool, I appreciate that. I also hear you just got back from Mexico. Tell me about this trip of yours.

I did. Me and my girlfriend went for four nights to Mexico City. It was my first time there, though I do have family further west in the Guadalajara area. It was just wonderful exploring the city, the restaurants, and all the great coffee shops. I can't wait to get back, to be honest.

Was there a standout favorite highlight of the trip?

We did some of the classic tourist things, like seeing a Lucha Libre match, which was a lot of fun. We also did a mole and mezcal tasting—always a highlight. But really, just discovering the different little coffee shops and bakeries around town was the best way to start every day.

Cool. On the topic of traveling, favorite place you've been in your life or a dream destination place you've never been but always wanted to go?

I think my favorite place so far is Tokyo, Japan. I love it there. Second would probably be Melbourne, Australia. I really dug the vibe. Being able to interact with a different culture and society is always a good thing—it’s an enjoyable way to spend a vacation.

I agree with all that. Tokyo is also my favorite place. It's great. I'd also like to get to know you a little bit better. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do?

Well, I was born and raised in Chicago. Interestingly enough, I’m actually a Chicago Police Detective, but I always tell people I was an educator first.

Right now, I’m launching a brand new website focused on educational consulting and an upcoming podcast called "The Academic Detective." I like to think of it as MythBusters for academic theories. I take complex leadership and sociological theories and test them against the lived reality of the streets and the classroom. My work in the department centers on community policing—using my doctoral lens to build real relationships and understand the deeper "why" behind what we see in our city. I’m bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community through a more investigative, human-centered approach.

I knew I recognized you!

(laughs) Yeah! It’s an interesting career path. Before the badge, I was a high school English teacher at CPS, Curie High School, on the Southwest side. Before that, I taught in Barrow, Alaska—about as far north as you can go. I’ve always had an affinity for adventure.

Education has always been the foundation for me. While serving as a detective, I’ve been pursuing my PhD in Educational Leadership at DePaul University. I’m actually all done now—my dissertation was accepted, and I’ll be walking the stage next month in June.

Congrats on that.

Thank you. Yeah, exciting times.

All of that is very interesting to me. I have a million questions. I'm not even sure where to begin. The Alaska thing is fascinating. Barrow has been on my to-do list. I've never been to Alaska though. How do you end up in Alaska of all places?

A lot of it was being a 20-something-year-old with a fresh teaching certificate and a hunger for adventure. I went to a job fair, saw a booth for Alaska, and they told me, "Hey, you're young, try it out!" One year ended up becoming four and a half.

So you stayed out there four and a half years. Is it something you would recommend for people to try? I mean, it's got to be a very polarizing place to live.

It 100% is a very polarizing place—

Literally and figuratively. (self-congratulatory laughing)

Exactly! But I'm so thankful for it. Learning about the indigenous cultures and the native Alaskans gave me a perspective I use every day in my community work. It was the adventure of a lifetime.

One last question on Alaska—what's the sunlight situation like? Is it hard to adjust to, or do you get used to it?

It was very hard. I dealt with complete darkness in the winter. Interestingly, when I joined the police department as a rookie, they threw me on the midnight shift. In a way, surviving those Alaskan winters actually helped me adjust to the midnights here in Chicago!

Let's bring it back to Chicago here real quick. What's something you love about the city? You want to shout out a place you like, favorite restaurant, favorite bar?

I live in Ravenswood, so I love the local spots like KOVAL Distillery, Dovetail, and Begyle. Del Sur Bakery, The Perfect Cup! A bit closer to where I spend my time working is Kite String Cantina — great taquitos and a perfect hangout before a Cubs game.

A few of those I haven't been to yet that I'm now excited to check out. How are the Bears going to do this year?

This is the year! I’m turning 39 in August, and I think since I could talk, I've been saying the Bears are going to win. Let’s bring it home, Caleb! Good Better Best!

[Editor’s note: not a bad prediction considering the interview took place prior to the season’s start]

Awesome. Anything else you want to end on? A joke, a story, a thought?

Just a general philosophy: the Golden Rule. Treat each other like we all want to be treated. Peace and love.

And on a personal note, as I launch "The Academic Detective," I’m looking to connect with guests and producers who want to help me debunk these academic myths. If you're passionate about where theory meets the real world, let's talk!

I love it. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Appreciate it.