A longtime counselor and teacher for Topeka Unified School District 501 died Tuesday night, the district said in a news release Wednesday morning.

Gail Kaiser, 62, was found unresponsive in her car around 5 p.m. Tuesday at Topeka West High School, where she had worked as a counselor since 1995. She previously worked as a business teacher and counselor at Jardine and French middle schools, starting with the district in 1975.

The news release said Kaiser loved her students and was well-known, and Topeka Public Schools "suffered a great loss."

"Our thoughts are with Ms. Kaiser’s family, friends and TPS family during this difficult time," the district said.

Misty Kruger, director of public relations for USD 501, said counseling services from across the district have been brought to Topeka West for students and staff members who would like to talk about the situation with someone.

Topeka West principal Dustin Dick sent an email Wednesday morning to parents and guardians of Topeka West students, informing them of Kaiser’s death and calling her passing "a huge loss to the Topeka West family."

"Ms. Kaiser has been an integral part of the Charger campus life for many years and we will miss her very much," Dick wrote in the email.

Dick noted that students were informed of the situation during first hour Wednesday through the reading of a statement.

"This will be a tough time for all of us," the statement read in part. "Please be respectful of others’ thoughts and feelings as we grieve for Ms. Kaiser."

Wednesday classes will proceed as scheduled, but students were encouraged to seek out a counselor if they needed support.