BELTON (January 27, 2010)--For the second time in three months, our Boss of the Month committee, took us to school - selecting an educator as our honoree. But the nominations for the January winner didn't just make the grade, they ruined the curve - setting the all-time record for most nominations for one boss in a single month.

Belton Middle School principal Joe Brown is very, very rarely in his office.

"We want to put an ankle tie around his leg and have him on GPS so we can find him because he is anywhere and everywhere," says 7th grade history teacher Allison Starling.

6th grade math teacher Rena Blackstock notes, "anytime we need him we know not to look in the office for him."

He's rarely here (in his office) because he's out here (in the hallways), interacting with the kids and putting the word "pal" in principal.

"He wants you to know he is there for you and to me that's a friend, and that is a pal," states 6th grade social studies teacher Kellee Captain.

Brown says, "I mean, I know there's things I can do here in the office too but if I'm here in the office, I'm not getting to see the kids and be in the teacher's classrooms."

"I've taught 39 years, this is my 39th year and i was going to retire next year and i'll probably not because i would really like to teach under him more years," claims Blackstock.

Starling adds, "he is guiding us all, from the beginners to the experts in how to manifest our craft and I think he is wonderful and he totally deserves this."

What can brown do for you? Well, apparently a little bit of everything. And for that, Belton Middle School Principal Joe Brown is January's News 10 Boss of the Month.

"I'm going to enjoy it for a while and get back to work, it is, especially coming from the staff, it really really means a lot to me and I will tell the teachers thank you when I see them and I just hope I can keep working hard for the teachers and kids," says Brown.