Neela Rathinasamy (Pahara Cohort PC2) is the director of data and systems at Pahara. She has been involved in education reform nationally and locally in the District of Columbia for the past fourteen years. Over the last three years, she has been an independent consultant navigating the intersection of data, policy, operations, management, and implementation on behalf of a variety of education-oriented organizations.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Neela served as the Assistant Superintendent of Operations in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), the state education agency of D.C. overseeing grants management, dispute resolution, enrollment and residency support, building operations and procurement planning. Neela also spent eight years at the District of Columbia Public Schools system (DCPS) in a variety of roles, including Chief of Staff in the Office of General Counsel, Deputy Chief of Central Office Effectiveness in the Office of Human Capital, and Deputy Chief of Special Education Compliance in the Office of Special Education, managing DCPS’ response to four major federal lawsuits.

Neela's passion for public service was sparked by her two years of service in the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. She has a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and two daughters.