Principal Dresses as Batman, Sleeps on School's Roof

Batman may typically be found keeping careful watch over the streets of Gotham, but last week the Dark Knight was spotted on the roof of a Tennessee school keeping vigil for education.

Thurman Francis Arts Academy principal Jeff McCann had made a promise to his students that if they could meet the $50,000 goal of their "there's a superhero in all of us" fundraising campaign, he'd not only dress up as Batman but would spend the night on the roof of the school dressed as the hero. And when the students exceeded their goal, McCann told WKRN.com that he had to do what the real Batman would do in the situation.

"They raised over $57,000 and Batman is true to his word, so I spent the night on the roof," McCann said.

The school's fundraiser, which was raising money to advance the school's technology resources and other classroom supplies, raised the bulk of the money over a period of two weeks. Efforts included a Fun Run with students soliciting parents and friends for donations. This is the second year McCann had promised students he would do something campaign theme-related if they met their goal. Last year the principal had to walk the plank into a pool of slime in keeping with the pirate theme.

And while Batman's nights are typically spent trying to clean up crime on Gotham's gritty streets, it sounds like this Dark Knight had a far less eventful – and far less exhausting – experience. From when he climbed up to the roof at 6:30 p.m. last Wednesday to when he came back down at 7 a.m. last Thursday, McCann said that he managed to both sleep and read while on the school's roof.

"I read some books and actually got a good night's sleep," McCann said.