A hero in Maryland

The name Robert Gladden Jr. might be much better known today if it weren’t for Jesse Wasmer.

Gladden is a 15-year-old in suburban Baltimore who’s accused of firing a shotgun at random in the cafeteria of his high school Monday, seriously wounding an intellectually disabled classmate. Wasmer is a guidance counselor at the school.

Witnesses said that after the first shot was fired, Wasmer tackled Gladden and held him down until police arrived. The only other shot Gladden got off struck the ceiling.

“It just talks about his character, that he would be willing to put his life in danger to save these guys,” one student said afterward.

The truth is our nation’s schools are filled with folks like Jesse Wasmer, men and women who love their jobs and are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to serve — and at times protect — their students.