Five decades after being airlifted out of Vietnam at age 4, Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean addressed a crowd on the deck of a decommissioned aircraft carrier that played a pivotal role in the final days of the Vietnam War.
Now serving as the first Vietnamese American to hold his office, Bean said he carries with him a deep understanding of adversity — and a lifelong commitment to supporting students with the greatest needs.
“Because I had a teacher that believed in me, I was able to find my voice,” he said.
On Sunday, April 27, Bean spoke aboard the USS Midway Museum during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind and the Fall of Saigon. While the all-day event focused on the final evacuation of American personnel and South Vietnamese refugees, Bean shared his personal story of being rescued through Operation Babylift — a parallel humanitarian mission that brought thousands of orphaned Vietnamese children to the United States.
Born in Saigon in 1971, Bean contracted polio as a young child and was later abandoned by his biological parents. In April 1975, he was brought to the United States via Operation Babylift, arriving in San Diego, where he was placed in foster care and eventually adopted by the Bean family.
The county superintendent described the challenges of adjusting to a new country, speaking only Vietnamese and navigating an unfamiliar culture. He recalled how his sixth-grade teacher, Donald Geisinger, encouraged him to give oral presentations — an act of belief that changed the course of his life.
“Donald Geisinger said to me, ‘Stefan, don’t worry about the fact that you’re in a wheelchair. Don’t worry about the fact that you can’t speak English very well. What I want you to do is give oral presentations this year,’” Bean told attendees. “And I did.”
That early encouragement helped him develop communication skills that eventually led him to Washington, D.C., where, as a sixth-grader, he spoke at a national youth conference on behalf of students with disabilities.
Bean went on to graduate with honors, earn a full-ride scholarship to the University of Southern California, and complete both his master’s and doctoral degrees. Today, he leads programs and services that support more than 400,000 students across Orange County — including English learners, students with disabilities and others who face barriers.
The Legacy of Hope event drew about 2,000 attendees to the USS Midway Museum, featuring live music, traditional dance performances, a special wreath-laying ceremony, and remarks from veterans, former refugees and other distinguished speakers.
Among those in attendance were Donald Geisinger — the teacher who encouraged Bean to find his voice — and his wife, Bonnie.