The Legacy of Eva Mae Gregoire
There are some women whose presence quietly shapes generations.
Eva Mae Gregoire was one of those women.​
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She was a devoted mother, a steady sister, a loving aunt, a loyal cousin, a trusted friend, and a deeply rooted community member. She carried strength without spectacle. She nurtured without conditions. She gave without keeping score.
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To know her was to feel supported.
To love her was to feel safe.
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Her life was not defined by titles but by impact—the kind that is measured in late-night prayers, early-morning sacrifices, and unwavering belief in the people she loved.
Kristi Michelle Gregoire
Founder and Executive Director
Kristi Michelle Gregoire is an accomplished educator, organizer, leadership fellow, and community advocate whose career has been defined by service, advocacy, and transformational leadership. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Eva Mae Gregoire Memorial Foundation, an organization committed to cultivating holistic wellness, youth leadership, scholarship access, and community collaboration across Iberia Parish and beyond.
With more than fourteen years of experience as a classroom teacher and paraprofessional at the middle and high school levels, Kristi has consistently demonstrated excellence in instruction, student growth, and professional development. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Education in Leadership from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. She also maintains a Louisiana Department of Education Level 2 Teaching Certificate.
Kristi’s leadership extends far beyond the classroom. She was selected as a fellow in the inaugural class of the National Education Association (NEA) Organizing Fellowship Academy — a highly competitive nationwide selection of only twelve fellows from nearly one hundred applicants. This distinction recognized her work as a local association president and her engagement in state and local initiatives focused on advocacy and member organizing.
Throughout her career, Kristi has built a strong reputation for advancing professional learning and equity-centered instruction. Early in her teaching career, she presented at the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics state conference, where her session was described as “A Packed House”. Since then, she has developed and delivered professional development sessions across the state and nationally on topics including trauma-informed instruction, bullying and harassment prevention, de-escalation strategies, Socratic seminars, digital learning, culturally responsive instruction, and student voice.
Her commitment to racial and social justice in education is reflected in her authorship of grants and facilitation of initiatives that support diverse and representative teams. In 2020, she was awarded the Teaching Tolerance Future Voters Project Grant, where she collaborated with internal and external stakeholders across multiple affiliates to promote civic engagement and student empowerment. She also received an NEA Foundation Student Success Grant to support literacy initiatives for minority students.
Kristi’s leadership résumé includes service as President of the West Baton Rouge Association of Educators, Blended Learning Facilitator and Coordinator for the NEA Teacher Quality Program, facilitator for HBCU Praxis Boot Camps, fellow in the NEA Global Learning Fellowship, and member of Leadership Iberia through the New Iberia Chamber of Commerce.
Her work has been recognized not only through professional accolades but through the voices of those she serves. Colleagues describe her as relentless in improving student performance and rigorous in developing professional growth opportunities. Students have acknowledged her as one of the “Hardest Working Teachers,” citing her long hours, emotional support, and advocacy for respectful dialogue across differences. School leaders have recognized her for producing consecutive years of student growth, including performance in the 98th percentile.
Kristi’s professional journey is deeply personal. The Eva Mae Gregoire Memorial Foundation was established in honor of her late mother, whose dedication to family and community shaped Kristi’s character, discipline, and faith. Through the Foundation, she channels her expertise in organizing, advocacy, education, and leadership into initiatives that strengthen families, uplift youth, and promote holistic wellness.
Kristi believes that leadership is measured not only by achievement but by impact—and that true legacy is built through service. Through the Eva Mae Gregoire Memorial Foundation, she continues to transform personal grief into purposeful action, creating sustainable pathways for scholarship, wellness, civic engagement, and community unity.
A Daughter's Promise
Losing my mother has been the most painful, distressing, and heart-wrenching experience of my life.
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Grief has a way of revealing how deeply someone shaped you. In her absence, I see clearly what her presence built.
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She made me the woman I am today.
Every ounce of discipline.
Every measure of resilience.
Every act of compassion.
Every standard of excellence.
Those seeds were planted by her hands.
There were flowers I did not get the chance to give her while she was here.
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So this foundation is my offering.
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Every program, every scholarship, every wellness initiative, and every act of service is a bouquet laid at her feet—a public declaration of private gratitude.