Carlton Glassford
Meet Carlton
For nearly two decades, I’ve devoted my career to helping teachers and students thrive. I’ve served in a wide range of roles—classroom teacher, instructional coach, district-level trainer, and district-level administrator—and through each chapter, I’ve learned that great teaching isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, honesty, and the courage to do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.
I’ve taught and led in diverse communities across Indiana, the Bronx, San Jose, and now just outside Portland, Oregon. Over the years, I’ve observed hundreds of hours of classroom instruction, deepening my understanding of effective practice—and equally important, recognizing the approaches that fall flat. I was honored to be named Outstanding Educator of the Year in 2014, a recognition that affirmed my belief that teaching excels when we stay grounded, reflective, and relentlessly focused on students.
Currently, I serve as a High School Social Studies Teacher at Mountainside High School in the Beaverton School District, where I strive to make learning meaningful, engaging, and authentic for my students every day. My professional path has also included roles such as Chief Academic Officer, mentor teacher, and trainer, giving me a wide-angle view of how systems and classrooms work—and how they can work better.
My book, Suck Less in the Classroom Tomorrow, distills the lessons I’ve learned the hard way. It’s an honest guide for teachers that shares what worked for me, what didn’t, and the truth about both. I believe deeply that if we make small but thoughtful changes—and stop pouring energy into practices that don’t serve us—we’ll eventually land somewhere better. Teaching is hard, but improvement is possible. Always.
Whether I’m writing, podcasting, educational coaching, or teaching in my classroom, my mission is the same: help educators get better, feel seen, and find joy in the work—one small step at a time.