She then attended Adelphi University, graduating with a Master's degree in 1979, at which point she began working for the New York City Department of Education as a teacher.

Not long after starting her work as a teacher, she was elected to the New York City District 18 School Board, where she served from 1980 to 1983.

In 2008, following the inability of State Representative Jack Seiler to seek re-election due to term limits, Clarke-Reed ran to succeed him in the 92nd District.

She faced Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton and accountant Mark J. LaFontaine in the Democratic primary, whom she defeated with 41% of the vote.

When she ran for re-election in 2010, she was opposed by Wilton Manors City Commissioner Justin Flippen in the Democratic primary, who attacked her for "accepting massive amounts of Republican money," to which Clarke-Reed responded, "You get contributions in campaigns from everywhere, from people who possibly have the same interests you have in a given issue.