Cleveland ISD

Dr. Glenn Barnes is an innovative and visionary educational leader with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. He began his journey in education in 1997 as a high school social studies teacher in Franklin, Louisiana.  He relocated to Texas with his family, where he joined Cleveland ISD  in 1999 as a 9th-grade World Geography teacher at Cleveland High School. Over the years, he has demonstrated instructional expertise by teaching an array of advanced courses, including Pre-AP and AP World Geography, World History, and AP Human Geography, and initiating the district’s first Dual Credit U.S. History courses, expanding rigorous academic opportunities for students.

Dr. Barnes transitioned into educational leadership in 2010 as an Assistant Principal at Cleveland Middle School. Recognizing his exceptional leadership acumen, he was promoted to Principal in 2012. Under his leadership, Cleveland Middle School achieved an extraordinary milestone in 2017, earning all seven Texas Education Agency (TEA) distinctions—a recognition bestowed upon only 5% of schools statewide. In 2017, he advanced to Cleveland High School, where he continued fostering a culture of academic excellence and student achievement.

In August 2020, Dr. Barnes was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Leadership and Culture at Splendora ISD, where he led districtwide cultural transformation through the nationally recognized Capturing Kids’ Hearts initiative. Under his leadership, Splendora ISD was recognized as a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School District, with all campuses earning individual National Showcase School Awards—evidence of his ability to cultivate positive school climates and strong educational ecosystems.

He later served as the Superintendent of Aransas Pass ISD, where he successfully implemented strategic initiatives that strengthened the district’s operational and instructional frameworks. His tenure was marked by developing a Strategic Alignment Plan, implementing a Balanced Scorecard to drive continuous improvement and financial stabilization through budget realignment, and overseeing key infrastructure projects. His transformative leadership at both campus and district levels has consistently resulted in measurable academic growth, leadership development, and systemic innovation.

Dr. Barnes holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in History from Southern University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University. His contributions to the field of education have been recognized through numerous accolades, including Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, TASSP Region 4 Principal of the Year, and Sam Houston State University Distinguished Educator.