Judge Frazier concludes CCPS Principal for a Day participation
- Shanda Crosby
- Dec 2, 2025
- 2 min read
For Judge Tyler Frazier, stepping into Justice Elementary as Principal for a Day was more than a visit. It was a nod to a longstanding family legacy in public education.
Raised in a family of educators in Madison County, Frazier carries a strong appreciation for the role schools play in a child’s life.
That understanding has only sharpened in his position as a district judge, where he routinely encounters young people whose futures hinge on early intervention and consistent support.
“Everyone I have met today is a total kid advocate, and the more people kids have on their team, the better,” he said. “Once they're 18 and they're out of school, a lot of resources dry up for them, so it's vital to make the impact when they're young.”
District judge for Kentucky’s 25th Judicial District serving Clark and Madison counties, Judge Frazier was immediately struck by the tone of the work happening inside the school. He began the day sitting in on a leadership meeting with Principal Mary Maldonado and several staff members.
“Everything was student-first, and that was really nice to see," he said. "It's so encouraging to see kids have allies in the school system who support them to the level I just saw in that meeting.”
Frazier is still early in his judicial tenure, but his path to the bench has taken him through nearly every corner of the legal system, giving him a unique perspective to his work and an added appreciation for the schools’ role in supporting children.
His almost five years as an assistant Commonwealth’s attorney in Madison and Clark counties, two years in private practice, and five years as Richmond’s city attorney, gives him a clear picture of the trail some young people may follow without support and intervention.
At Justice Elementary, he found children surrounded by adults who care and systems built to help them succeed.
“It's eye-opening at how much care goes into running a school system,” Judge Frazier said. "It really is a people-first industry and it was encouraging to see how everything is ordered and managed with the students' best interests in mind."
