Finding Their Voice: Ms. Kristi Zadik’s Heart for ACCESS Students

By Klein ISD Jessica Williams

September 30^th, 2025

At Benignus Elementary, Lead ACCESS Teacher Ms. Kristi Zadik is recognized not only for her instruction but also for her profound connection with her students. Whether through creating personalized tools, building trust, or showing compassion, Ms. Zadik embodies our Klein Family values by helping every learner find their voice.

Her lifelong love for working with children eventually led to a career in education.

“I was the neighborhood babysitter, then worked in daycares and as a nanny,” Ms. Zadik said. “When my daughter started school, I began volunteering, and one thing led to another. I found myself drawn more and more to students who received services, and it just clicked.”

That passion eventually guided her into Klein ISD, where she has spent the past six years serving students with special needs.

Ms. Zadik describes her current role as an ACCESS teacher as both a calling and a partnership with Klein ISD.

“I really believe in Klein ISD’s Promise2Purpose mission statement,” Ms. Zadik said. “This district has given me opportunities to bring my skills to the community, and I just want to give back.”

One of the most touching examples of her personal approach to living out her Promise2Purpose mission came when a nonverbal student repeatedly visited Ms. Zadik’s desk, fascinated by her calendar.

“The student was telling me what she wanted, without words,” Ms. Zadik said. “So I gave her her own desk, with her own calendar. The look on her face was like Christmas. It was her way of being seen and heard.”

Finding Their Voice: Ms. Kristi Zadik’s Heart for ACCESS Students

Since then, the student’s engagement and excitement in class have grown remarkably.

For Ms. Zadik, moments like these are at the heart of teaching ACCESS students.

“I love being part of their ‘aha’ moments,” Ms. Zadik said. “Sometimes my students feel misunderstood, but I want them to know their voices matter. My job is to help them build self-worth and find their place in the community.”

Ms. Zadik credits her success to the people around her, including her colleagues, paraprofessionals, and the supportive school environment at Benignus.

“We are who pours into us,” Ms. Zadik said. “I’ve learned from so many mentors, even in fleeting moments. I hope I can be that very mentor for my students.”

Ms. Zadik’s advice for new teachers is simple but powerful.

“Breathe in the good, breathe out the bad,” Ms. Zadik said. “Teaching can be hard, but when you know why you’re here, it makes all the difference.”

And for Ms. Zadik, that “why” is clear: helping every child, regardless of how they communicate, discover that their voice matters.

Klein ISD is grateful for the compassion and dedication Ms. Zadik brings to Benignus Elementary each day. She is a shining example of our Klein Family values. Thank you, Ms. Zadik, for all you do!

Amazing teachers like Ms. Zadik show why Klein ISD is the #1 Education Employer in Texas on Forbes’ Best-in-State Employers 2025 list. Forbes compiles its annual Best-in-State Employers list through an independent survey of more than 160,000 employees, asking them to rate their employers on working conditions, growth opportunities, compensation, and likelihood of recommendation. Klein ISD placed #33 overall among all employers in the state. The district stands alongside top-ranked organizations such as Google, Chick-fil-A, NASA, and Apple.