‘My staff over-reacted to this tweet … I apologize’

That’s what 18-year-old Emma Sullivan did and her effort garnered more than 11,000 new followers, although it’s unlikely she planned this outcome—an outcome that includes a formal apology from Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

Here’s the scoop.

Last week, Brownback delivered a speech to a group of students taking in part a Youth in Government program at Shawnee Mission East high school in Topeka. From the audience, Sullivan shot off this tweet:

“Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person #heblowsalot.”

After Sullivan published her message, Brownback’s press secretary Sherriene Jones-Sontag—whose resume was posted on Jim Romenesko’s blog—contacted the teen’s principal, who told her to send an apology letter to the governor, according to PRNewser.

Politico said the principal, Karl R. Krawitz, even suggested talking points for the letter.