The Aransas Pass Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees, at its October 17, 2023 meeting, named Dr. Glenn Barnes of Splendora ISD as finalist for its superintendent position. The Board’s finalist decision comes through a superintendent search process following the retirement of former Superintendent, Ms. Cara Cooke. By law, the Board must now wait 21 calendar days before considering a vote to hire Dr. Barnes to be the new superintendent for Aransas Pass ISD.
The Board has followed a lengthy process in determining the finalist. In July 2023, the Board hired Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Executive Search Services as the consultants to direct the superintendent search process. TASB consultants met with the Board and received community input regarding leadership qualities of the new superintendent position. This leadership profile developed from these meetings was the yardstick used by the Board and consultants in evaluating the applicants for the position.
The Board selected eight applicants for initial interviews and then four applicants for a second interview. With the second round of interviews completed, the Board narrowed the group of four candidates to one, naming Dr. Barnes as the sole finalist. A Board vote on a superintendent contract to hire Dr. Barnes can be expected as early as November 2023.
Dr. Glenn Barnes has served in education since 1997, when he began his career as a high school social studies teacher in Louisiana. His family moved to Texas in 1999, and he was hired as a 9th grade World Geography teacher at Cleveland High School. While at Cleveland ISD, he has taught World Geography, Pre-AP World Geography, World History, AP World History, AP Human Geography, and Dual Credit US History.
He transitioned to administration during the 2010-2011 school year when he was hired as an Assistant Principal at Cleveland Middle School. In 2012-2013, he was promoted to Cleveland Middle School Principal. Under his leadership, Cleveland Middle School earned all seven distinctions in 2017; one of 463 schools statewide, to accomplish this feat. In the 2017-2018 school year, he transitioned back to Cleveland High School as the campus principal.
In August 2020, Dr. Barnes was hired as Assistant Superintendent of Leadership and Culture at Splendora ISD. Dr. Barnes led the district’s cultural work through Capturing Kids Hearts. During his tenure, Splendora ISD has earned multiple Capturing Kids Hearts National Showcase School District Awards, and all campuses have earned Capturing Kids Hearts National Showcase Schools Awards. He also supervised campus principals and supported various departments within the school district.
Dr. Barnes earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History from Southern University and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Sam Houston State University. Dr. Barnes has also garnered various awards and honors, including Cleveland ISD Teacher of the Year, Cleveland ISD Principal of the Year, TASSP Region4 Principal of the Year, and Sam Houston State University Distinguished Educator.
He has been married to Simone Barnes since 1995, and they have two children, Taylor and Tarik.