Janet Kaiser, center, with members of the School and Community Partnership.

Columbia High School social worker Janet Kaiser has been selected to receive the School Social Worker Award in Character Education from the Academy for Character Education at The Sage Colleges. Kaiser will receive the award at the 13th annual Champions of Character Award Banquet on April 14 at the Franklin Plaza in Troy.

Kaiser has worked at Columbia since 1999, providing counseling services to students on an emergency and ongoing basis. She helps students with academics, social skills, family issues, mental health issues and other crises.

“It’s a little bit of everything that’s needed,” Kaiser said.

She was honored to receive the award, saying “I’m very touched by it.”

In addition to Kaiser’s direct work with students, she meets with social workers from other school districts and community agencies as part of a think tank that discusses current issues and trends.

“Janet is an outstanding social worker,” said Columbia Principal John Sawchuk. “She has been a big part of our program here from helping individual students to putting together community programs for our families. This is a well-deserved award.”