STEFAN BEAN
ORANGE COUNTY
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
WHY: Provides support and fiscal oversight to 28 school districts serving more than 600 schools and 450K students.
IN THE NEWS: Has developed career technical education program that partners with private companies to give technical skills training to youngsters.
NOTABLE: Born in Saigon during the Vietnam War and contracted polio at age 2, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Not long after, was found abandoned on the streets and taken in by an orphanage. At age 4, was placed in one of the final Babylift flights out of Vietnam and brought to the United States, where he entered foster care before being adopted by Gregory and Judy Bean.
QUOTABLE: “As a child, I navigated an educational system that often failed to recognize the potential in students like me. Yet, thanks to educators and community members who believed in my abilities, I found the support I needed to succeed. Those experiences became the foundation of my career and fueled my lifelong commitment to creating opportunities for others, particularly those facing their own unique challenges.” —Leader Board
