Michael M. Coates, M.S.
Power Kids Founder
Michael founded Power Kids in 2007. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind summer enrichment program which empowers children by helping them support their peers and community. He started the company with 30 children and four instructors, and has since more than doubled the enrollment to over 100 children. The program was proud to receive Medford's Key to the City in 2014 from Mayor Michael McGlynn for outstanding and dedicated service to the community.
Inspired by his father, Paul Coates, a Brookline middle school math teacher for over 35 years, Michael decided to pursue a career in education. He holds a master’s degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston and is licensed as an elementary educator in the state of Massachusetts. His undergraduate work was done at Emerson College in Boston where he obtained a B.S. in business communication and speech.
Since 1995, Michael has been an elementary educator in the Medford Public School system. His career began at the Hervey, a unique public elementary school founded by teachers and parents to offer an alternative, developmental approach to teaching and learning. In addition to teaching at the Hervey full-time, he also served as the assistant principal for two years before it closed in 2002. Michael is currently a third grade teacher at the Brooks Elementary School in Medford.
Michael also wrote a book entitled Our Medford, An Elementary Guide to the History of Medford in 2015. It was embraced by the Medford School Department and the School Committee. It is now used as a local history text across all third grades in the city.
In addition, Michael is proud to be the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility advisor for the Brooks Elementary School from 2017 - 2019 and 2022 - 2025. The mission of the CCSR is to develop responsible global leaders/citizens who will be positive contributors to society and will work to combat important social issues such as global warming, addiction, prejudice, racism, pollution, gender bias, poverty, public education, healthcare, etc.
Michael comes from a family that has worked for many years in educational settings. His sister, Betty, is currently the principal of Beverly High School in Massachusetts. Michael’s mother, Pat, worked in higher education for over 20 years, first at Regis College, and later at Emerson College as the Director of Health Services.
Michael’s wife, Maria Amato-Coates, has been a large part of the success and growth of Power Kids. She has been a lead counselor since the beginning of the program. She has been an elementary teacher at the Bishop School in Arlington, Massachusetts from 1997- 2018. She has experience at a number of grade levels including third, fourth, and fifth grade. Currently, she is a K-5 literacy coach for the Arlington Public Schools.
Maria holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She obtained her teaching license at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and is currently licensed in grades 1-6. Her undergraduate work was done at Emerson College in Boston where she majored in Communications, Politics, and Law.
Like Michael, Maria comes from a family of educators. Her father, Dr. Philip Amato, is a retired college professor and former Dean of Academics at Emerson College. Her mother, Carol, worked for many years in the public schools as a speech and language pathologist and is a published children’s book author.
Power Kids Founder
Michael founded Power Kids in 2007. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind summer enrichment program which empowers children by helping them support their peers and community. He started the company with 30 children and four instructors, and has since more than doubled the enrollment to over 100 children. The program was proud to receive Medford's Key to the City in 2014 from Mayor Michael McGlynn for outstanding and dedicated service to the community.
Inspired by his father, Paul Coates, a Brookline middle school math teacher for over 35 years, Michael decided to pursue a career in education. He holds a master’s degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston and is licensed as an elementary educator in the state of Massachusetts. His undergraduate work was done at Emerson College in Boston where he obtained a B.S. in business communication and speech.
Since 1995, Michael has been an elementary educator in the Medford Public School system. His career began at the Hervey, a unique public elementary school founded by teachers and parents to offer an alternative, developmental approach to teaching and learning. In addition to teaching at the Hervey full-time, he also served as the assistant principal for two years before it closed in 2002. Michael is currently a third grade teacher at the Brooks Elementary School in Medford.
Michael also wrote a book entitled Our Medford, An Elementary Guide to the History of Medford in 2015. It was embraced by the Medford School Department and the School Committee. It is now used as a local history text across all third grades in the city.
In addition, Michael is proud to be the Center for Citizenship and Social Responsibility advisor for the Brooks Elementary School from 2017 - 2019 and 2022 - 2025. The mission of the CCSR is to develop responsible global leaders/citizens who will be positive contributors to society and will work to combat important social issues such as global warming, addiction, prejudice, racism, pollution, gender bias, poverty, public education, healthcare, etc.
Michael comes from a family that has worked for many years in educational settings. His sister, Betty, is currently the principal of Beverly High School in Massachusetts. Michael’s mother, Pat, worked in higher education for over 20 years, first at Regis College, and later at Emerson College as the Director of Health Services.
Michael’s wife, Maria Amato-Coates, has been a large part of the success and growth of Power Kids. She has been a lead counselor since the beginning of the program. She has been an elementary teacher at the Bishop School in Arlington, Massachusetts from 1997- 2018. She has experience at a number of grade levels including third, fourth, and fifth grade. Currently, she is a K-5 literacy coach for the Arlington Public Schools.
Maria holds a master’s degree in education from Harvard Graduate School of Education. She obtained her teaching license at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and is currently licensed in grades 1-6. Her undergraduate work was done at Emerson College in Boston where she majored in Communications, Politics, and Law.
Like Michael, Maria comes from a family of educators. Her father, Dr. Philip Amato, is a retired college professor and former Dean of Academics at Emerson College. Her mother, Carol, worked for many years in the public schools as a speech and language pathologist and is a published children’s book author.
