Some principals pick their own Halloween costume. At Longview Farm Elementary in Lee's Summit, Missouri, the students get to decide. This year they decided their principal would be Captain Underpants.

The tradition is built into the school's fall PTA fundraiser. Whichever class brings in the most money earns the right to choose what Principal Michael Orr wears to the annual costume parade. The winning kids took that power very seriously.

When second-grade teacher Madeline McConnell told her class they had won, the room exploded. She described instant screaming and jumping around. She admitted she was just as excited as her students.

The kids explain their reasoning

Asked why they chose the cartoon superhero who fights crime in his tighty-whities, the second graders were refreshingly honest. One said the whole point was that he figured the principal would have to wear underpants. Another was even more direct and said he liked the idea of the principal walking around barefoot and nearly naked all day.

Orr took it in stride and showed up for the parade in costume. Hundreds of Lee's Summit elementary students joined costume events across the district before the holiday weekend. The kids around him at Longview Farm came dressed as Kansas City Royals players, the Lorax and plenty of other favorites.

Why he plays along

Orr said he has loved Halloween and dressing up for years and he enjoys hunting down good costumes. He also said keeping things fun is part of the job. In his words a big part of his role is building a positive culture in the building. Nothing does that like making people smile and feel happy.

Judging by the reaction in the second-grade classroom, the cape did its job. The only question left is what the winning class will dream up for him next year.