AURORA | The Cherry Creek school board on Wednesday appointed Princeton University graduate and local parent Keith Frazier to a school board seat made vacant in April after the previous director resigned amid a scandal over “racialized” remarks.
After a special meeting Wednesday evening, school board members appointed Frazier, who was one of five final candidates for the empty post.
Former school board member Terry Bates was forced to resign in April after being accused of making “racialized” remarks in public.
Neither he nor school officials would detail his comments, but the Denver Post, after filing an open records request, revealed that Bates had on three occasions asked people if they came to the United States by using a “coyote.” The term refers to people who illegally smuggle immigrants into the United States.
In a special closed meeting, the school board compelled Bates to resign, officials said after the meeting.
The board seat has since been vacant.
“We had a great set of applicants and we appreciate members of our community stepping forward to serve this District,” board members said in a statement. “Mr. Frazier’s interview was exceptional, and he demonstrated a strong commitment to this District. We are excited about welcoming Mr. Frazier as a colleague on the Board.”
Frazier received an electrical engineering degree from Princeton, has children attending Cherry Creek schools and has for years volunteered there, according to school district spokesperson Ashley Verville
Officials said he has previously worked with school principals, administrators and teachers. Frazier has also been involved with the district’s Voices of Color parent group.
Verville said Frazier is scheduled to be sworn into office during the district’s June 8 meeting. He will complete Bates’ term, which expires in November 2027.
Frazier describes himself as an acquisition entrepreneur on his LinkedIn social media page. “My career spans roles in leading technology companies, where I contributed to the adoption of innovative solutions in customer experience, digital health platforms, and visual communications,” he said.
The District Director D position became vacant after Bates was forced to resign April 24.
“As elected leaders serving the Cherry Creek Schools community, we have a responsibility to respect the district’s values, uphold district policies, and act with the utmost professionalism,” school board members said in a statement issued after his resignation. “When a member’s actions fall short of board policy and those values, we must address it directly and stand for what is right. As a Board, we have zero tolerance for this type of behavior.”
School board members said only that Bates’ “coyote” remarks were “inappropriate” and that school board members had proof he had made similar remarks before being elected last November.
Bates later posted comments on Facebook, addressing his resignation.
“I accept full responsibility for offending others by my comments, and I regret that my apology was not acknowledged in the board’s press release,” Bates said in the statement.
He said he called school board President Anne Egan to discuss the controversy caused by his comments, but he did not get a return call.
“In advance of the meeting, I prepared a written apology acknowledging that my words were inappropriate and expressing my desire to personally apologize and make things right,” Bates said. “During the meeting, I distributed my written apology to each Board Member. I asked whether my apology would be considered, and I was told it was “too late.” No one asked me a single question about what occurred.”
He said he realized then that there would be no opportunity to address the controversy.
“I believe in accountability, and I took that step. I also believe in fairness and due process, and I do not believe those principles were extended to me in this situation,” Bates said. “It’s important for the community to know that I made a sincere, good-faith effort to take responsibility and address the matter directly.”
The latest tumult for the district follows the resignation of the district’s superintendent and other key school district officials.
The Cherry Creek School District Board of Education approved in February what they termed as policy reforms and an external audit following the sudden resignation of Superintendent Chris Smith and the placement of the district’s chief human resources officer, his wife, Brenda Smith, who was also later terminated.
“This is a difficult and emotional moment for our district and our broader community,” Cherry Creek Board Director Angela Garland said during a February school board meeting. “The departure of Superintendent Chris Smith and the placement of our human resources director on leave has stirred a wide range of emotions. For some, there is relief, perhaps even a sense of vindication. For others, there is grief, confusion and a real sense of loss. I have had conversations with people on both sides, and I want to be clear, both experiences are real and both deserve to be acknowledged.”
Smith’s resignation came amid media scrutiny stemming from a Denver 7 News investigation in which district employees described what they characterized as a toxic work environment. Sources for the 7 News report also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest because Smith and the district’s chief human resources officer are married.
Smith is the subject of allegations that he was linked to outside consultants awarded large school district contracts.
District officials have said Smith’s resignation was unrelated to the television reports.
Brenda Smith was fired May 15 from her job as human relations director for the district after being suspended in February amid controversy surrounding her husband and other school officials.
“In conjunction with Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Perry, we the Board of Education have received the final investigative findings regarding Brenda Smith,” school board members said in a joint statement Friday. “Ms. Smith will not be offered a contract for the 2026-27 school year. Based on the personnel investigation, significant policy violations occurred. We will not be paying out any of the additional benefits as this is a for-cause termination.”
She had been paid her monthly salary of $21,572.67 since being suspended, and will receive that through June 30, according to school district officials.
The decision to fire Smith was made by Perry, who then informed the board of her decision, according to Cherry Creek Chief Communications Officer Abbe Smith, no relation.
The investigation was conducted by outside attorneys, officials said.
School officials would not provide details of the alleged policy violations, citing personnel matters and indicated information would be released only via a Colorado Open Records Act request.
The school board in February approved what they termed as policy reforms and opened an external audit following the sudden resignation of Christopher Smith and the placement of the district’s chief human resources officer, his wife, Brenda Smith, on administrative leave.
Those reforms include tightening procurement and spending approval policies, requiring legal department review and approval of all contracts and establishing clearer guidelines for district travel for the remainder of the school year, according to a previous statement from Verville.