Following his military service, Clayton graduated from Portland Community College with an Associate Degree in Business and Accounting. He was a honors graduate at Portland State University earning a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology in 1970.
He received a Master of Public Administration: Health Administration Degree from Portland State Univerity in 1990, and completed a year of post graduate studies in Public Administration and Policy. While doing graduate studies in PSU's School of Urban and Public Affairs, Clayton was honored for his work with community organizations.
He received a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Western Oregon University (WOU) in 2004. From 2005 to 2015, he held the position of adjunct faculty at WOU and currently serves on the WOU College of Education, Curriculum Advisory Committee.
Clayton has a long history of working with, and developing and managing programs for young people with disabilities. In 1984, he began his career as a private vocational counselor and business consultant. In 1996, he was employed by the state of Oregon to work with people with disabilities and working with local school districts assisting youth with disabilities in Tillamook, Astoria and Hillsboro, Oregon.
In 2001, Clayton became a Program Manager for the State of Oregon, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for the Career Workforce Skills Training (CWST) Program in five Oregon community colleges (Portland, Lane, Rogue, Clatsop and Chemeketa Community Colleges).
In 2002, Clayton was the Youth Transition Program Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation. In 2006, he was honored as the Outstanding Special Needs Administrator of the Year by the Oregon Association of Vocational Special Needs Personnel.
In 2010, Clayton retired from public service, but was asked to come out of retirement to complete work on a $2.8 million federal model demonstration grant known as Project ACCESS. He was the Project Manager for the grant, a collaborative effort between Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Oregon Department of Education, University of Oregon, College of Education, five school discticts in Lane County, and five Confederated Native American Tribes in Oregon. The program established innovative programs for youth with disabilities transitioning from high school to post-secondary activities, including independent living, higher education, and employment.
Clayton formally retired from state of Oregon employment in 2014. Prior to his retirement, Governor John Kitzhaber appointed Clayton to the State of Oregon Rehabilitation Council (SRC), and in 2013, Governor Kate Brown reappointed Clayton to another three-year term. He will end his tenure on the SRC in November 2019.
Currently, he is serving as an elected director and Vice-chair for the Tillamook County Emergency Communications District (the 911 system). He has also served on the Tillamook County Commission on Children and Families and was appointed to the Tillamook County Health Council. He was an elected member of the Rockaway Beach, Oregon city council for a total of nine years.
Clayton has devoted his lifetime to promoting independence and success for young people with disabilities. He has presented at local, state, national, and international conference on youth in foster care, and youth with disabilities. He has a long history of public service within the Tillamook community.
Through his work in public administration, as a private business owner, and working for not-for-profit organizations, Clayton has devoted his energies in gratitude for all the kindnesses he and his family have received from the citizens of Tillamook, as well as public, private, and not-for-profit organizations.
Clayton has been a resident of Oregon for 54 years and has resided in Tillamook County for 39 of those years. He and his wife live in Beaver, Oregon (South Tillamook County) where they own and operate a 70 acre horse ranch.