September 2024 Student Spotlight

We talk to Coach Supervisor at Seamen’s Society for Children and Families and Marxe MPA candidate, Manuel Tejada, about his career in coaching and motivational techniques, his experience at the Marxe School and more.

Can you tell us a bit about your role as a Coach Supervisor at Seamen’s Society for Children and Families?
As a coach supervisor, I work one-on-one with our coaches to provide guidance, insight, support, and feedback on the work they do with their clients. Our coaches work with youth 14-26 in foster care and who have been discharged from foster care to help and assist them in developing individualized educational, vocational, and independent living goals (the latter primarily for youth who have been discharged to their own housing). As a previous coach myself, I understand the importance of approach and relationship building and how integral it is to the coaching model. I ensure that the Coaches are constantly learning and fine-tuning their methods to get the most of out of youth so they can put themselves in positions to thrive and succeed.

How do you ensure that Empowerment Coaches are consistently providing high-quality services?
I focus on supporting my staff through a socio-emotional and growth lens. Our coaches work with a range of personalities and ages and youth who have experienced trauma. I assist the coaches in homing in on their coaching approach and style so that they are developing strong and trusting relationships with their clients. In doing so, our youth feel supported and are engaged in the process of developing and executing their goals. The coaching model they follow and adhere to is based on best practices built through the umbrella organization that houses the coaching model, Fair Futures, which has received city funding to house coaching programs in child welfare agencies across NYC.

How do you use motivational interviewing techniques to assist your coaches in developing effective action plans with their clients?
Our coaches use pro-social and motivational interviewing techniques with their youth in their one-on-one sessions. I also utilize similar methods to help the coach’s problem solve. In asking open-ended questions, and creating a space for conversations, the coaches feel comfortable to develop and brainstorm ideas on how to tackle a tough situation or provide feedback on ways I and the program can improve.

What achievement in your current role are you most proud of, and what impact did it have on the program or the youth you serve?
I am proud of the role I’ve played in providing opportunities for our coaches to celebrate their successes and growth. In this field, which can be very emotionally taxing, it is imperative to recognize and acknowledge staff accomplishments and celebrate that. In my time, I advocated with my director to implement a Senior Coach role and nominated one of my coaches for an ACS excellence in practice award. I think by creating a supportive environment, the program can retain staff which can lead to more effective work with our young people.

Can you tell us about your Marxe experience? What motivated you to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration, and how has this degree enhanced your work at Seamen’s Society?
I’m a part-time general MPA student. I began my MPA journey in the fall of 2021, and I expect to graduate this upcoming fall 2024 semester. I’ve enjoyed my experience because it has provided me with the practical and theoretical knowledge to operate effectively in the nonprofit and public sphere. Because of my experience as an MPA student, I feel that I have gathered a strong foundational understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the public and nonprofit sector and have gained a firm grasp on the practical leadership skills to be effective in this area.

As a native New Yorker who has always felt the need to be of service to our communities, this degree journey has provided me with the proper elements to grow in this work. Mentors of mine from my previous work who are in leadership roles across the nonprofit sector in NYC guided me in this direction. Some of them attended Baruch and obtained their MPA and others received an MPA elsewhere. In those conversations, it became apparent to me that this was the correct route for me and my worldview.

The MPA experience has enhanced my work at Seamen’s by giving me a firm understanding of the inner workings of nonprofits. I can clearly communicate program growth ideas with my staff and my superiors and how to execute, formulate or visualize program success.