Kendi Rainwater

Overview

Kendi Rainwater serves as Interim Chief Financial Officer at The Legal Aid Society[1], a position held since June 2026[2]. Rainwater previously held the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the same organization beginning in August 2023[3]. Before joining The Legal Aid Society, Rainwater worked at the NYC Department of Education in several capacities, including Senior Executive Director of the Division of Budget Operations and Review from December 2021 to August 2023[4], Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer from July to December 2021[5], and Manager of Operations and Policy in the Chief Operating Officer's office from July 2019 to June 2021[6]. Rainwater also served as Project Manager in the Office of the Chancellor from July 2018 to July 2019[7] and as Consultant in the same office from January to July 2018[8]. Earlier in their career, Rainwater worked as an Education Reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press from July 2015 to August 2017[9]. Rainwater holds a master's degree in Economics and Education Policy from Teachers College, Columbia University[10] and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature with a minor in Economics from Covenant College[11].

Career history

1. Interim Chief Financial OfficerJun 2026 to presentThe Legal Aid Society
2. Deputy Chief Operating OfficerAug 2023 to presentThe Legal Aid Society
3. NDSenior Executive Director, Division of Budget Operations and ReviewDec 2021 to Aug 2023NYC Department of Education
4. NDChief of Staff, Chief Operating OfficerJul 2021 to Dec 2021NYC Department of Education
5. NDManager of Operations and Policy, Chief Operating OfficerJul 2019 to Jun 2021NYC Department of Education
6. NDProject Manager, Office of the ChancellorJul 2018 to Jul 2019NYC Department of Education
7. NDConsultant, Office of the ChancellorJan 2018 to Jul 2018NYC Department of Education
8. CTEducation ReporterJul 2015 to Aug 2017Chattanooga Times Free Press

Education

1. Eonomics and Education Policy at Teachers College2017 - 2019Columbia University
2. CCBachelor of Arts, English Literature; Minor in Econoomics2010 - 2014Covenant College